10 Ways Your 20s Are Just Like Your High School Years

All of these Buzzfeed articles got me thinking about my 20s, what I like about them and what I actually miss about college. Then it dawned on me, my likes and dislikes all sounded vaguely familiar...enjoy.

1. You're on a (air quotes) "budget." Money is actually decent, and you find yourself sitting comfortably in between Ramen Noodles and Grey Goose, but leaning more towards Grey Goose when you can swing it. Thanks mom and dad for funding Emerging Adulthood.

2. You have to juggle family time and friends time.
"It's Saturday morning mom, I got in at 3 a.m. and NO I don't want to go to Ikea with you! What? You'll buy me new furniture? Okay where's the Advil..."


3. Suggesting movie/fro yo/random sober activity nights doesn't make you lame. No explanation needed, we've all been there. It's become socially acceptable again to hit up your friend for his parent's media room like, every other weekend.


4. Organized sports are cool again. Kickball anyone? Or softball might be more your style.


5. People actually go on dates.
Remember Starbucks hang outs in high school? Well now they're called coffee dates, and yes - they are real.


6. Your friends live more than 5 miles away.
16 year old self: What? You don't want to hang out because your parents have the car? 24 year old self: What you don't want to hang out because of gas prices and the long drive? Not so different.


7. You're well on your way to changing the world.
Whether or not it was to get into college or to become the next 30 Under 30, we know your motives.


8. You can be anonymous at the gym and choose to workout at a different place than your last hookup. I know, shocking. You still need to don Lululemon of course, don't get crazy.


9. You actually go to family events now.College is no longer the safe excuse it once was. And no you cannot hit on the hot 13 year olds at your cousin's Bar Mitzvah.

10. You have to plan your evening activities.AKA no 10pm Saturday night frat party texts, no Greek Life mixers and no group projects to do. And it's harder than it sounds. Movie night, anyone?

Brewed for Success

It’s a Sunday afternoon and everyone has on their spring Sunday best. Let’s face it; no one turns it on for a Broadway show better than the ladies and gentlemen of Dallas. And the return of the Dallas Summer Musical’s Wicked proved to be no different. Some would call it a creative spinoff, but the ultimate test of time has shown us that Wicked now stands in a league of its own. A beloved and Tony Award-winning musical, Wicked reveals the untold truth behind the life and upbringing of the Wizard of Oz’s Wicked Witch of the West, loveably named Elfaba, or Elfie for short.

As the show’s protagonist, Elfaba captures our hearts early on. The sad and often overused tale of a girl who was born different but yearns to be accepted feels fresh and invigorating with each monologue and powerhouse song. In short, the girl can bring down a house.

Though no one has bigger shoes to fill than an actress who follows in Idina Menzel’s footsteps, I was truly impressed by the talent and gumption I saw on stage yesterday. Wicked is one of the highest energy shows I know of, and each ballad comes in with higher expectations than the previous. We’ve all grown to love Wicked, what with its popularity on the hit show Glee, and the recognizable “Defying Gravity” – it’s just one show that doesn’t lend to 90 percent effort.

I have to say though, my heart goes out to any actress in the future who ever, and I repeat ever, has to follow Kristin Chenowith. She is a living, breathing, triple threat energizer bunny who can belt out elusive high notes in her sleep. It’s almost inhuman that she had a go at Glenda first, because I’m still searching for the actress who can revitalize the role of Oz’s Good Witch. The actress yesterday just felt a little, well, flat to me. It was like watching the show in 2D while secretly jealous of your friends who got tickets to the 3D IMAX version. You want to like and appreciate the movie, but you know it could be so much more.

Outside of the two main talents, everyone else pretty much held their own on stage. None of the other performers seemed like standout stars to me, but they did their jobs to charm and entertain the crowd – who unsurprisingly flew out of their seats at curtain close. A standing ovation was what they deserved, and in true Southern Hospitality form, it is exactly what we gave them. You never let me down, D-town.

The Art of The Sit-In

For as long as I can remember, the sit-in was a bad, bad, thing. From lonely time-out corners full of tears to stories of protesters invading a space to let their voices be heard, our society has been conditioned to believe that purposeful sitting must mean something is very wrong. If you don't believe me (and on the off chance you're in a Starbucks), take a look around. We've become a nation of over-caffeinated iPhone/Twitter/Facebook addicts that just can't seem to relax.

My penchant for analyzing the world around me has truly led me to this theory. We're afraid to sit still. No really, there is a legitimate fear that if we sat down, by ourselves, with no technology, the world would truly collapse. I'm not saying that I'm above it, of course. I am as plagued by this constant need to be active as the next person, but I wonder what would happen if I started to take a few minutes out of my day to just simply...be. And I'm not talking meditation style where you must "empty your mind" - because the 90% of us ADHDers know that ain't happening any time soon. But really, if you're in your 20s and you can't remember the last time you did something without your phone in your palm, look at this as a wake up call: I challenge you to sit with no motives.

"The monotony and solitude of a quiet life stimulates the creative mind." - Albert Einstein.

I'll leave you with this quote. If it seems just out of your reach to quiet your mind, know that the creativity within never dies. How's that for the ultimate multitask?

Happy Week Ahead,
Stephanie

Mea Culpa

I'd like to think that we live our lives within a series of Sliding Doors. There are countless paths we choose to take each day, each month and each year. Especially, each year. Universities, careers and relationships chosen are a culmination of the forks in the road that we follow down the path of life. How often do you look back though, and think "my mistake." How many times does that fleeting moment of regret hit you each day? For some of us, the feeling of dread and regret follows us like a shadow. The other, more fortunate set, make their choices and go with it without looking back. Oh do I wish I had what they had.

I pose to you today though, don't fall victim to the constant agitation of always looking back and what could have happened. The phrase mea culpa, which literally translates to my mistake, or my fault, rears its ugly head in far too many 20 year old young adults. It's just a nuisance. If you feel like there is something you should have done, then do it today, but if the moment has passed then let it bury itself.

To quote Wikipedia (the highest form of literary work, no doubt) the origin of the expression is from a prayer of confession of sinfulness. Making a mistake is not sinning. Nor is taking the wrong path.

So, rather than convincing yourself of making a mistake, look at it as an opportunity to perceive or recognize how you can change, AKA discern...which naturally, is latin for "to learn."

No fireplace, but it's getting warm in here

Housewarming.

One doesn't just move into an apartment and write a blog about it without addressing the housewarming process. And I don't mean in the party sense, because if you've ever moved into an apartment you know that the real parties happen long before the official wine and cheese I-no-longer-have-a-bank-account-so-appreciatemyart classy party.

I'm talking about the housewarming gifts. The elusive it's not my birthday or Hanukkah but where are the goods time, when no one is allowed to walk in empty-handed for fear of missing out on next month's (week's) ragefest. So herein lies the issue.

If you're about to head over to your friend's new place, for god sakes put down the orchid. Put down the mezuzah and seriously I probably won't ever open your cheap bottle of white wine unless I'm lonely and it's a night that ends in Y. Okay, the wine can go back in the bag. But do you know what we really want, us 20-somethings who can't afford, like, anything?

A freaking case of water bottles. That's the kind of stuff we can't go to mom and dad for. Think outside the box. What do you think we need most? It's not a scented candle if that was your next guess. Even a picture frame (picture included, come on now) would do. It's functional too, wherever I put it is one less space I have to fill.

Next time when you shop for your friend's new digs, just know that she's probably been eyeing those coasters at Urban and she'll probably love you forever for showing up with them. We drink in our 20s, FYI. Be that friend that's useful. The one that people actually like to have around. You'll thank me later.

Happy Weekending,
Steph

My Happy Dance 2.0

Okay, here it goes. I’ve been poked and prodded, urged and coerced. I’ve been asked, ahem, repeatedly, if I’ll be keeping a written and very public online diary of the trials and tribulations of moving out of my parents’ house. The questions were as follows:

“SO, you’re starting a blog right?” “I’ll get to follow along with you as you venture into the uncharted territory of adulthood?” And my personal favorite, so are you gonna upload all of your furniture to the blog and tell people where to get fabulous finds for cheap? Please…I’m a 23 year old working girl, not Marie Claire.

But, their wish is my commandment, so I’ve decided to start a Blog. And I’ll start you off with a quote:

“Because if you've found meaning in your life, you don't want to go back. You want to go forward. “

Thanks Morrie Schwartz.

I’m not going to preach to you and hold up my metaphorical shining rock and dance around claiming to have found the meaning of life, but there is a profound peacefulness in knowing who you are and not being afraid to act accordingly.

So, as I said: here it goes. Welcome to the life and times of another 23 year old just trying to make her mark.

An Ode to My Parents

"The family is both the fundamental unit of society as well as the root of culture. It ... is a perpetual source of encouragement, advocacy, assurance, and emotional refueling that empowers a child to venture with confidence into the greater world and to become all that he can be."

MARIANNE E. NEIFERT, Dr. Mom's Parenting Guide

“I suppose [my life] has most resembled a blue chip stock: fairly stable, more ups than downs, and gradually trending upward over time. A good buy, a lucky buy, and I've learned that not everyone can say that about his life.”

NICHOLAS SPARKS, The Notebook

      As my college graduation day nears, I’ve started thinking about what has led me to become the person I am today. I could cast it off and attribute my success to hours of studying, pressure to perform or just simply societal mandates that we graduate and join the real world, but that’s not what actually drove me to walk across the stage on May 11.

      Growing up, I saw too many kids fall through the cracks. I knew students just like me who foundered upon moving away and ultimately returned to the comfort and solace of their parents’ homes. Many of whom are still there today.

      So what made me different? As the question manifested itself in my psyche, I could no longer ignore it. The single most reason why I managed to succeed can be boiled down to one word: Stability.

      I’m not saying that the kids whose lives turned out different than mine lacked this consistent stability, but I am wholeheartedly acknowledging what I know was the case for my own life. The stable upbringing my parents provided me not only served as building blocks for success, but they are what drove me to the far ends of the earth without ever forgetting my roots.

      Reflecting on my youth, I think I exemplified a different kind of ADD. I couldn’t sit still, but on a much, much larger scale. I went from private school to public and back in 3 years, only to move on to a different public school 3 years later. Then I started to search for the perfect high school. My parents never batted an eyelash. Caring and nurturing throughout, they urged me to find my best fit.

      Greenhill was the place I knew I would love. For 4 happy years, I thrived as a mature young adult and grew to become the person I am today.

      Sophomore year I was merely a sixteen year old whose summer interests turned sharply from summer camp to a month’s homestay in Spain. I again was met with eagerness and assurance that I would succeed in any endeavor.

      Ultimately, the day came for me to choose a college. Being the adventuresome thrill-seeking girl that I was, it didn’t bother me that I would be going to an out-of-state school, in a city I had never been to, on a campus I had never visited, and to a place where I had no family.

      Apparently- it didn’t bother them either.

      I am simply attempting to put into words the indescribable upbringing with which I was blessed. I was never told that I was too naive, too inexperienced, or too immature to do anything upon which I had set my heart.

      At 21, I traveled all the way to Europe and lived and studied in one of the world’s busiest cities. Along with my belongings, I carried my family’s love, loyalty and support 110% percent of the way.

      So you see, there are ways to bring up a child.

      There will always be limits and boundaries and reasons to say no, but the times they will remember and cherish forever are the times when you let the rules bend a little. It’s okay to quiet the voice in your head that urges you to keep your children around for just a little longer.

      If they feel your support, your love and your stability, then no matter how far you let them go, they will always come back.

The Tweet of the Day

      There’s a saying, “if you can’t change the people around you, then change the people around you.” I’ll give you a second or two to let that sink in. – We good? Okay.

      Well I read that the other day on, of course, Twitter, (#dontknockittillyatryit) and it just kind of stuck. I’m a big believer that we have control of our own destinies.

      As my time at college draws to a close (7 weeks, but who’s counting right?) I’ve started to become incredibly reflective on my time in the great state of Georgia. I’ve made friends that will last a lifetime and our memories will hardly be forgotten. But, I would be lying if I didn’t admit I’m excited for a change.

      College is great, but man I am so ready to get back into city life. Coming here I have learned so much about myself. I’m ready for the opportunities a post-grad life will bring, and somehow no matter how far away I am, my appreciation for Texas has remained about as big as the state itself.

      I surely didn’t want to change the people around me these past 4 years, but now that my thoughts have shifted I’m glad to have that chance.

A New Kind of Sleep Cycle

      I’ll warn you. This post isn’t gonna be pretty – but like many of my others – it’s still I something I believe needs to be said.

     I had one of those nights last night, the ones where you wake up in the middle of the night and check the clock, hoping it’s only a few minutes to your alarm, but in the back of your mind you know it’s far, far too dark outside.

     6:35 a.m. Great. I had two choices. I could sit there and spend my idle time forcing myself back to sleep (we both know that wouldn’t go well), or I could use my wired state to think about the day ahead. Well, the day became the month, the month became the year. I was literally sitting in a dark room thinking, no, worrying about the coming months. Ugh… nothing good would come of this.

     So that’s when the idea for this post started to form in the corners of my mind. Here I was obsessing about something for which I had absolutely zero control. I was being too hard on myself, critical that I had taken a golden opportunity to plan (or really even sleep) and turned it into a pity party. And not the good kind. I’m talking the kind of party where you’re the guest with no certain future and no real job offer. Yet everyone somehow wants to know what YOU’RE doing after graduation.

     We all do that, you know. When our minds are too idle we’re prone to worry; we aim to control the uncontrollable. Like, if somehow we think about it enough the events will fall naturally into place like pieces of a puzzle.

     I challenge you to retrain your mind. I’m certainly going to try. I challenge you to dwell on the positive. Use those elusive early hours of the morning to get excited about the good things in your life.

     It took me a full 45 min for the fact that it’s a Friday to even cross my mind. I have one class today and the weekend will make itself known before 2pm. Yet here I was thinking about how I would probably have to work in July. Don’t say you haven’t been there.

     Everyone wants a challenge. Game on.

All That Sparkles Is Not Gold

Per my usual pedantic entries, I find myself writing again about the inner workings of the human psyche. I haven’t done exuberant amounts of formal training to hone my skill of reading people, but the more time I spend around others the more inclined I feel to attempt to figure them out. I didn’t choose to be this way, I didn’t actively search for ways to decode my friends, family or myself, but I find that as I am getting older the urge to dig deeper has yet to subside. Since it is perhaps too late to restart college (who wouldn’t want to though) I figure that my talents at this point are best spent writing about what I observe. No one wants to feel like they are friends with a psychologist – constantly being poked prodded and analyzed – but a writer? I think I can swing that mysterious edge I have going on.

So back to the point of my work. I already told you what I thought about the spotlight effect and how it actually affects all of us in one way or another. Well, loyal readers, I have a new one for you and this one is no joke. I’ve figured one of the greatest flaws of human nature. One that marketers, advertisers, matchmakers and especially Steve Jobs prey on when they attempt to attract and sell you the latest and greatest available. I present to you the shiny ball syndrome. Think about it for a minute, take a second, let it sink in. when you were a kid, did you not run around the playground chasing after bouncing balls aiming to grasp them and eventually become the keeper of the keys, the team captain, the coolest? Later on, those “balls” became your world of must-haves; the secrets to success. Once you caught a ball, or became inducted into the cool kids or chosen first for (insert elementary school game here) that feeling of pride just stuck. Like a crack addict, we’ve been trying to emulate that victorious feeling for the rest of our lives.

In high school, the elusive ball became a girl, boy or good grade, depending on your level of academic motivation or lack of. That’s when things started to get interesting. For some people there’s just one girl or boy that makes the chase worthwhile. If you’ve ever seen the movie “I Love You, Beth Cooper,” for one nerdy boy Beth Cooper shined brighter than any ball in Travolta’s “Saturday Night Fever.”

But I digress.

For a few, the shiny ball isn’t a person; it’s a feeling. It’s the feeling that we need to be chasing something or someone to validate our existence; to validate our social status. Basically, if you’re not trying for better than you’re just. Not. Good. Enough. And that my friends, is where I’ve been stuck like a girl in rapidly sinking quicksand.

Only lately did a friend tell me she thinks I have shiny ball syndrome. The subject changed as quickly as it was broached, partly because I didn’t know what that meant but mostly because I didn’t want to find out. Not from her, not from anyone. But alas, the notion stuck. Did I actually have what she claimed? Was I leading down a path of eternal unsatisfaction?

When I said it’s like a drug, I guess I wasn’t kidding. This kind of thinking sneaks up on you from a young age and just hangs there, feeding on every close encounter, growing with every boy left alone at the end of a date night while I jumped to something better.

It’s painful to say even now, but it’s something worth expressing in words. Nothing good ever came from internalizing and withholding the emotions. Even if it’s not the most desirable thing to read in the world, good journalism and blogging doesn’t come from simply giving the people what they want. Is it not the New York Times that touts their age old slogan, “all the news that’s fit to print?” delving into human nature, all good and bad of it, is not only fit to print, but it’s something I felt compelled to discuss. I had to get it out.

A New Age for New Media

As I near the end of my college career, I have started to notice a definite shift in my late-night online habits. Gone are the days of toggling back and forth between Gilt Group and Perez Hilton. I now find myself scanning job postings everywhere from LinkedIn to Journalism Jobs and beyond. Paychecks come at a heavy price these days, what can I say?

In a recent posting looking to hire a senior copywriter, I noticed in BIG, BOLD print that one can only apply if he has an online portfolio and/or blog site included in his application.

Ladies and gentlemen: the future has come and it arrived in the form of a Blog.

I guess you could say that a Blog is the cooler, newer version of an online portfolio. The kind that can do more, be more and sell more.

Professionals in the industry say that we in journalism and creative advertising are shifting to become more internet-based. I’m not here to say we are completely done with the move, but I think that post was one giant leap for all of us.

So I pose you this question…is a Blog the new online portfolio? Can we do away with websites containing only single dimension media?

In this age of convergence and multi, well, everything, is a Blog the most effective way to highlight our talents as a writer, webmaster and social media aficionado?

For now I think it is, but only until the next best thing comes along.

Graham Colton concert review

The Graham Colton concert at New Earth in Athens last night was reminiscent of a rising college town band trying to make it in the big world. His Tuesday night concert amassed about 20 devoted fans on an otherwise quiet downtown evening. The hit in numbers could be probably be attributed to its timing, as Tuesday trailed Georgia vs. Florida, the university’s biggest party weekend, and Halloween. Nevertheless, Colton gave a strong performance and other than a few comments encouraging the crowd to “act and sound like a group of 400,” he never indicated disappointment. Colton admittedly started the show without a specific set list and mixed up the concert with songs from all three albums. Loyal followers heard some of his classics, including “Cigarette” and “Best Days of Our Lives.” Songs from his new album fall into the similar indie/alternative genre and catch the same audience. Although his voice has clearly matured through the years it remains pure in that it-sounds-like-I’m-serenading-you way. He kept the crowd engaged with questions and conversation between each song, and kept referring to the group as being “one with the band.” For those who have always yearned to witness a great band’s casual jam session, last night was as close as they may ever get.

"Everyone gets a chance in the spotlight; you can have it when I'm done!" - anonymous

There’s a phrase in Psychology termed the spotlight effect. Someone experiences this effect when they feel like everyone in the room is staring at them. Newsflash: no one really cares about you (in a good way). Back when I was younger and under a lot of pressure to mold myself into the perfect middle school prototype, I used to think people were constantly analyzing my actions. I thought that, without a doubt, people were critiquing me behind my back and preying on my weaknesses. I can recall a specific incident when I was at the gym trying to stretch before a workout and couldn’t get all the way down into the splits. “This is embarrassing,” I thought to myself. “I can’t fail, I can’t do a half split it’s not good enough.” The thoughts kept coming. Even though I can look back and acknowledge how childish and insecure I was at such a vulnerable age, I can still remember that hot cheeks flushed feeling. I don’t know why some people feel the spotlight effect more than others, but for most of my life it highly affected me. It may have been an inflated ego (people want to watch me) or none at all (people want to stare at me), but I’m slowly emerging out of it into a much healthier adulthood. It’s not healthy to nitpick others for their actions and to feel ashamed or embarrassed for your own doings. The world tells you to be who you want to be, to follow your dreams and do what YOU want. There will always be the few who try and act as a roadblock on your path to success, but you can’t let them be the ones who keep you down. It’s not so much that no one cares, but they don’t notice your mistakes or your failures. People notice success. So the next time you’re at the gym and you can’t, let’s just hypothetically say, do the splits…remember that you’re trying and no one’s watching you fail. They’re just thinking that you’re a better person for pushing yourself to succeed.

Discovering Success

Have you ever heard the saying, “you don’t know what you don’t know?” Well if you haven’t, then of course you don’t know it. But I have – and I think about it a lot.

My dad, one of the wisest men that I know, has always been an idea guy. He dabbled in entrepreneurship post-college hoping to hit on the “next big thing.” While he can’t claim TiVo or the iPod, I still think of his personality and drive for success as one that I would like to emulate.

Having said that, I enjoy listening to those people who have gained some serious wealth by recognizing what was lacking from their surroundings, environment, nearest shopping mall, whatever. A few years back I attended the International Association for Business Communicators at UGA. They had Vena Kim, the founder of Yoforia, speaking about her journey to open Athens’ first frozen yogurt shop. Fro-yo, as it’s commonly referred to, has gained widespread popularity in bigger city markets.

She said something that I still think about today. She said there was a hole in the market. I had never heard anyone say that before. Usually people who want to become Steve Jobs and Bill Gates spend hours thinking about ways to improve what is already on the market. They take a popular gadget, drink, magazine, etc., and invest tons of dollars trying to steal away buyers.

Yeah, and how’s that workin for ya?

In short: it’s not. I think Kim captured the true entrepreneurial spirit when she said she saw something that wasn’t there before. So ask yourself, are you really going to spend your time thinking about a way to improve on the competition? Or are you going to try and improve the community? Because that, to me, is priceless.

Well…not totally priceless. Some say it could get you more cash than the government.

Am I right or am i write?

I can’t figure out the link between happiness and productivity. I really, really can’t. Maybe you could give me some insight. I am so on the fence about this that I have fully analyzed both sides of the argument, and I am still unable to arrive at a conclusion.

On one hand, a dearth of productivity could signify extreme happiness. You are extremely at ease with yourself, your relationships and your jobs. You interact well with coworkers, take long, conversation-filled lunches and take off from work not a minute too soon to hit the gym and release more euphoria-inducing endorphins. Sounds like a great day, huh? Cut to the blinking cursor on your still white Word document. Did that fantastic day leave any time for you to produce real work? Doubtful. And if you think this day doesn’t apply to you, then it may not. The social life isn’t for everyone. But for those who feed off of the energy of others, never ending laughter and office camaraderie could leave a gaping whole in other places.

But that’s just One theory. Is there, on the converse, a distinct link between being out of ideas and out of serotonin? You can’t pay your bills on time, you feel like you’re out of shape, and worse – your friends haven’t been returning your calls…for weeks. So do you ho hum in to the office everyday eagerly anticipating getting to work? It doesn’t seem likely. It’s hard to pull yourself out of a rut to be innovative, creative and productive. But that’s just my opinion. And of course, outliers do exist.

I personally can’t make a decision. There are times when I am so happy and produce nothing … and there are times when I’m in a funk and produce about the same. Thoughts?

Intern-al Dilemma

Sometimes, when I’m bored, I read Blogs and various news sites that detail the dos and don’ts of having an internship. For example, do: be bright and alert every morning, without fail. Don’t: wear last night’s eyeliner and guzzle a venti latte like you’ll never see caffeine again. Could send the wrong message. So you see, I’ve tastefully skimmed through the various rants and raves on the Internet while aggregating and mentally summing up how to be the perfect intern. Then it got me thinking. (As if I'm ever not thinking).
What exactly is a perfect intern? Or more importantly, who owns this title? Is it the someone who is dutiful, prompt and put together? Or is it the someone who may be a little less about outward appearances but off the charts in talent and skill? Almost a catch-22, no? What kind of person do you want out there touting a past internship with your company like a brand ambassador? Because that’s what we are, really. Google’s calling dibs on the back row geek who’s tuning out the teacher and tuning into this month’s Wired Mag. And you bet DKNY or fill-in-the-blank NYC PR firm wants those pretty faces and socialites. Hand me that application. I kid.
But what happens when Google needs to send out an intern to recruit future tech-savvy and Internet hungry minds? Social skills are a must. And what about that PR firm or fashion company who needs someone to chart their growth and interpret the metrics? They didn’t teach that on Project Runway. The world needs a blend of interns. Companies need a range of up and comers, the ones who forget to read the Do’s and Don’ts (okay read the don’ts) but rather someone who owns what they bring to the table. Someone who is confident in their abilities and isn’t afraid to exude it day in and day out. It’s not about “looking the part” I'm serious, it isn’t. It’s about being the part; it’s about being the person they hired you to be.
So you see. There is no perfect intern. No one can wear all the hats in the world (although the Royal Wedding could give you a run for your moolah) and I beg you to find me someone who is fluent in C++, HTML, Vuitton and America’s Next Top Model. Good luck. And if you need some extra help, hit up the Starbucks Venti Latte: it’ll have you buzzing for days.

Boxed Out

You know when someone tells you not to think of something, but then you find that all you can do is think of that one thing? Quick…thing of anything else besides what you ate for breakfast today. Get real…all of our minds just turned to cereal, bananas and for the excessive health nuts out there I’ll throw in some donuts or last night’s cold pizza.

But really. That’s the struggle I’m having with current advertising efforts. Creative directors and clients alike all want us to think outside the box. Well then what does your brain go to? That stupid little box. That little, gnawing elusive box that you need to somehow find a way to claw yourself out of. We’re humans, so once we start down the path of thinking within a confined space all productivity suddenly goes out the window. Somehow, that found a way to escape.

While I was scouring the web for some innovative and boundary pushing ad campaigns, I came upon The Cool Hunter, a too-good-to-be-a-blog Blog that touts itself as the “world’s most-read culture and design site.” Two minutes in I see why, but more about that later.

The Cool Hunter operates a creative ideas agency called Access Agency. I was perusing their shtick when a certain line caught my attention. Or rather, engulfed me whole. Damn, they are good at what they do.

Here’s the first line of their Why. “Forget thinking outside the box. Forget the box. Where brands need to go today, there is no box.”

WHAT!?!??!!?

Did I just randomly stumble upon (Not to be confused with StumbleUpon, my social media junkies) my exact thoughts summed up in a sentence? Fireworks started going off in my head and from somewhere far away I think I heard the faint whistle from the beginning of the Commodores’ funk song “Brick House.”

So there you have it, I think I’m right in my assumptions, my friends. Nay, I am right. We are in a different age, a new age. There are no confined spaces, there are no square pegs and there are no round holes. And for god sakes, there is no box.

Here we go.

The Breaking Point

If you could change something about yourself, what would it be? Would you talk less? Talk more? Quit biting your nails? Pay more attention in class? You understand. Without drumming up any deep-seeded insecurities, I would like you to think of your most annoying habit and ways you could kick it to the curb perhaps once and for all.
I’ve started to consciously make an effort to get rid of my own bad habit, and I wonder how long it will take for me to be a completely changed person. Okay so that was drastic, but seriously. How long is long enough? If you stay on a corrective path for a certain amount of time, does it start to become the norm? If you decide to make a life change starting today, will you still be consciously making that change in 5 years? 10 years? Assuming you don’t give up of course, we aren’t quitters here.
It’s just… before I begin my journey of self alteration, I would like to know that there is – in fact - a finish line waiting for me; a feeling of accomplishment and success. It would be nice, you know.
Bad habits tend to follow us around like an annoying younger sibling (not that I know!) but the only difference is that we have the power to change this minor annoyance and make ourselves better, stronger and more positive people. No one wants a nail biting, fast talking, procrastinating friend. Where’s the good influence in that? So see if you can make small steps to a better person…. see ya at the finish line (or approaching finish line, that’s most likely where I’ll be).

Newsweek can't catch a break

The New York Times ran an article recently about Howard Fineman, a former correspondant for Newsweek Magazine, leaving to pursue online journalism through the Huffington Post. This article is yet another example of the trend across the board for the careers of many journalists. The NYT did not specify this as an isolated incident either. They said that many prominent Newsweek employees are jumping ship to pursue everything from Yahoo finance to advanced education. When a major print publication has difficulty retaining even its editor in chief, the supposed most passionate member of a magazine’s staff, that cannot be a good sign for its future. It’s a bittersweet situation. We in the magazine field hope to see people in a dying publication stick around long enough to change its structure and synergize it with an online media strategy. If its top recruits are flat out leaving to pursue straight online media such as Yahoo and Huffington Post, it doesn’t give us a clear picture as to where the future is really headed. They must know something we do not.


http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/09/19/newsweeks-howard-fineman-to-join-the-huffington-post/

And then Dallas realized there was a recession

Have you ever waited for that one new website that changes the way things are right now? You don’t know exactly what it is, what it will do or how it will raise the bar yet again, but once it arrives you think to yourself “okay, I like you and I will be using you” in the utmost anti-that’s what he said way. Well I had that moment today.

In the past, I had a similar experience with Facebook (duh), Twitter (double duh, follow me!) and Gmail. AOL was on its way out anyways. The website to which I am referring may not apply to many of my readers, but take notice and you could be the next website superstar franchiser. Welcome to Dallasonabudget.com. Damn that packs a good punch. For the land of the pretty people who can’t really afford Botox but go without dinner, I’m surprised a legitimate website about Dallasite penny pinchers didn’t surface sooner. I think it’s because no one wants to admit that they actually watch their dollars like they watch their calories, and minutes on the treadmill…

         But anyways, I found this great website for anyone who is in Dallas and on a budget and I have to say – the blog looks promising. For a basic wordpress format, I was impressed by the organization, frequent updates and quality of posts. I hope people take notice of the one bold girl who decided to put Dallas on a budget. I always knew it could be done. If you would like to be the frugal traveler in your own city then check out the new-found website and see if you can do the unthinkable and gasp! Actually save some dinero in the process.