Makin Moves

Personal Branding Website

2011-03-11T07:12:00.001-08:00

One of my new years resolutions was to do some social housecleaning and align my work with my passions. It's already mid-March but I've finally tackled one of the milestones to achieving these goals. I gave in and met yesterday with Matt Sisson (check out his work - he's incredibly talented) to throw around ideas for a personal branding website. We talked blogs, photography, music, design themes, etc. and I'm so excited to see his ideas come to fruition.

It's a bit contradictory to claim to be a social media enthusiast and not have a well-formatted and consistently themed blog. I will be looking for new employment come August/September and it's time to step up my game. Not only does it have to look legit (or...lijit, depending on how 2.0 savvy you are), but the content has to be engaging and value-adding. The prospect of a new site with a clean design is already lighting the fire under me to get my hands dirty in all the content possibilities.

The new site will host my blog (wordpress, waddup!), social media links, photography work, music ventures, and some super creative branding. Building a website is a big, but necessary, investment and shopping designers can be daunting. As I expected, Matt's vision completely aligns with mine and I'm excited to support his business.

You'll see some changes occurring over the next few months and I encourage you to stay tuned. You might not drool on your keyboard like I will post-construction, but I can guarantee that I'll be stepping up my content game.

What tips would you offer on the importance of personal branding? Do you think having a branded blog is necessary?

Help Dan Become The Ultimate Blogger

2011-02-23T08:18:00.000-08:00

I've got great friends. Period. They are always lending a helping hand, promoting each others' good works, and encouraging one another to push the envelop. So when I get an opportunity to help out a friend, I almost always jump at the chance. My good friend, and one of the first people I connected with freshman year of college, is doing something I think is awesome. He's applying to be the ultimate blogger for BMW. If chosen, he would be the official blogger for BMW, get $65,000/yr, would get a condo for 1 year, and a new BMW every 6 months. [You can read more of the perks here.]

I'm a complete closet gear head. You wouldn't exactly know by looking at me that I can change my own oil, fix a flat, hotwire a car (legally), clean a carburetor, etc. I go weak in the knees at luxury car sitings. The sound of 414 horsepower, 8400 RPM in a MS Coupe driving by gives me butterflies like a first date. I first got the BMW bug when I was in the single digits after my dad bought an old 3 series. I drove an X3 for a few years and it was hands down the best car I've ever owned and will own for a long time. They really are the perfect manifestation of luxury, safety, and quality.

Anyway, enough about my secret obsessions and more about Dan's. Help me help Dan score his dream gig with BMW just by CLICKING HERE. All you have to do is click on "vote" and you're done! If you're feeling extra generous, share the link with your friends and extended network as well. Let's help Dan be the ultimate blogger.

Born This Way

2011-02-17T05:36:00.000-08:00

If you're even the slightest bit in touch with pop culture, you've heard all about Lady Gaga's new single "Born This Way." I've been a closet Gaga fan (or little monster as she affectionately calls her fans) since she first came on the scene and my love and respect for her deepen with every song she releases. Her songs are catchy and her performances are second to none. She doesn't lip sync, her voice is actually ridiculously good, and she practices what she preaches. More than being an all around great entertainer and master of fame, I love her because she's an artist with a cause.

Gaga has addressed the administration on various social issues, has been an activist for the LGBT community, and has spoken out against bullying and suicide. I've been anticipating the release of "Born This Way" since she gave us a preview at the MTV Music Awards. I knew she wasn't going to be opaque with her message, and boy was I right. It's my anthem. If you haven't heard it yet, give it a go. You really can't argue with a chorus that says:

I'm beautiful in my way
'Cause God makes no mistakes
I'm on the right track baby
I was born this way
Don't hide yourself in regret
Just love yourself and you're set
I'm on the right track baby
I was born this way

Gifts That Perpetually Give

2011-01-26T13:03:00.000-08:00

I love giving presents. If I see something in a store that reminds me of a friend, I have that moment of I have to buy this for _____!! There's the anticipation and excitement, wondering if they'll like it and understand why you thought it was such a good gift in the first place, and then watching them open it. Oh, when they open it...sometimes I can't even contain my excitement! Before they cut off the ribbon or rip off the bow, I'm blurting "DO YOU LIKE IT?!"

Someone very special to me, someone who knows me better than I know myself, gave me a present this Christmas that means more to me than she'll ever know. In fact, I haven't even used the present yet, but just the thought behind it is giving me enough. I know, you're probably on the edge of your seat waiting with baited breath, whet with anticipation, wondering...WHAT COULD IT BE? TELL ME!! Right?

Here's the story. I had just gotten back from a nice visit home to Augusta, GA for Christmas and B (said special person) and I decided to give stockings to each other. She gave me really great and thoughtful presents, gifts like a guitar shaped cheese shredder and a head massager. She knows me so well. Then she gave me a wrapped box (I'm thinking a nice shirt or some other article of clothing at this point) and says it's my "big gift." I tear off the wrapping paper and open the box all wide-eyed and giddy until I look down and see a fleece onesie. You know, a onesie. Like, for infants. I stare at B confused. Um..are you pregnant? Are you adopting a Cambodian baby like Angelina Jolie? Are you giving me an American Girl doll?? So many questions. She tells me to just open the card and it will make sense. I open the envelop and inside is a card with baby feet on it. I was right, she's announcing her pregnancy! Immaculate? I start to read the card and before I can get through it all, I see the words "baby" and "Noella" through teary eyes.

[Back story] One of my best friends in the entire world moved to Santa Barbara, CA with her husband right after finding out they were pregnant. Their baby girl was born the day after Christmas so they named her Noella. Are you piecing it together? B bought me a ticket to go see her and the baby because she knew how incredibly special that was. She knew that seeing my friend and her new baby daughter would mean the world to me. She knew I wouldn't allow my frugal self to buy the ticket. She knew that it was a gift I couldn't find words to express my gratitude for...so clearly, I cried. It's what I do. The memories I'll make on that trip will give to me for the rest of my life. THAT'S a real gift if you ask me.

What present have you received that transcends the material, that keeps giving back to you?

What Does Makin Moves Mean?

2011-01-17T10:25:00.000-08:00

So...this blog is called "makin moves." I see that title almost daily whether I'm writing a new post or, admittedly, checking the comments activity (or inactivity) to fuel my self-esteem. I love to use my blog title in phrases such as "yeah, that kid on those rollerblades was makin serious moves!" or "did you see her business plan...girlfriend is makin moves!" Well, today was a little different. I logged into blogger, clicked to write a new post, and read the title out loud to myself. What does makin moves even mean to me? What moves am I making? These questions gnaw at me to be dramatic.

I started to ponder things that move me. Art, music, food, conversation, opportunity, and so on. There are all kinds of things that move me emotionally, spiritually, mentally, and some times even physically. It's essential to identify those things that you love, that move you, and bring more of them into your life. I can only imagine it would make you happier and more fulfilled. But more importantly than that, I have to ask myself what moves I'M making. What am I doing that moves other people?

For one, I make music. I hope that it speaks to people in some way, teaches them more about themselves, heightens an experience for them. I love entertaining and cooking for people. I hope that my cuisine doesn't just induce movement in the bowels but also brings people together to share and laugh. I can also move people donate to causes that are important to me. I like to think I'm a positive influence-r.

After thinking all of this (in a much shorter time-span than it's taken to read this far), I came to the conclusion that I want to be in a business that moves people toward their goals. I haven't sorted out all the what's and how's, but starting my own business has always been on my life to-do list. I want to equip small businesses with the necessary tools they need to spread the word about their company and MOVE them to success. I want to build relationships with businesses whose products speak to me so that I can in turn help them reach others.

It never occurred to me that the not-so-full-of-meaning title I originally gave my blog was a bit prophetic and is becoming the foundation upon which this business venture is being built. I'm excited to spend my free time creating something that not only moves me, but will ultimately move others.

What are you doing to make moves? More specifically, what business moves are you making?

Murr Krima

2010-12-23T07:38:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays! I'm taking a much needed break from the internet this year to spend time with family and friends. I'll save up the Reverb10 prompts for the new year! I hope you all have a safe and happy holiday!

Day 15 Reverb10: 5 Minutes

2010-12-15T09:48:00.000-08:00

My moment in the Baja, Mexico with my 3 best girlfriends, one of them got married. I don't think I've ever laughed so much in my entire life or felt so alive.
The day I found out said friend (who got married in the Baja) was pregnant. I still can't believe she's having her first child and in only a few days! I just can't wait to meet her.
My fourth therapy session. It was the day I decided that it doesn't matter what other people think of me. I love who I am, who I'm becoming, and I'm comfortable in my own skin. It also helped me discover my life motto: sono libera di amare. (I am free to love)
The beach vacation I took with my family in July. We laughed, we cried a lot, we sang and played guitar, we had profound conversations, and got a nice tan too. I always want to remember the bond I have with my family.
The night James, one of my bandmates, and I realized that we have a ridiculously intense musical bond. We just started playing and writing together and before the night was over, we had created some amazing music together. He's so talented. And I'm so lucky to have met him.
The day I realized I was in love with one of the most amazing people I have ever met in my entire life. We were the only ones sitting in a local bar in Burlington, just catching up and reminiscing, and I had a complete out-of-body experience. I thought my heart might explode out of my chest at the thought of not spending every tomorrow with them. I never want to forget or take for granted their commitment, compassion, humor, and love. I still have that goofy grin on my face.
The day I went to Stowe, VT with my roommate and two friends. It was that perfect fall day. The air was cool and crisp, we road the gondola to the top of the mountain, had a beer and some appetizers, and went to a cider mill for hot cider and donuts. It was such a great day.
Last night. I got to do some holiday shopping and Christmas is hands down my favorite time of year. I watched my roommate open all the gifts I stuffed her stocking with while we sat by our tree with all the candles lit. After she left, I had a yummy dinner of Annie's mac and cheese (another favorite) with the love of my life. And most importantly, I feel like our relationship transcended into newer, deeper territory. Lots of good things for one night!

I know there are a million other moments, trips, conversations, people, and places I would never want to forget. What about 2010 do you want to always remember?

Day 14 Reverb10: Appreciation

2010-12-14T07:06:00.000-08:00

Donate LIFE

2010-12-13T12:09:00.000-08:00

Donate Life Vermont is a social initiative sponsored by The Center for Donation & Transplant to increase the number of organ donor registrants in the state of Vermont. Its mission is to bring awareness and education to the Vermont communities about the importance and need for organ donors while providing the tools to take action. They reached out to me a few days ago to help announce a contest they have starting today. I jumped at the chance to participate and help spread awareness because this is an issue that has personally affected me on more than one occasion. I understand that death and afterlife can be extremely sensitive issues and I, too, want to be respectful of differing religious and spiritual beliefs. I'm only sharing my story, why I have chosen to be an organ donor, and how you can help save lives too.

Here are some quick facts:

Currently, there are over 100,000 people in the U.S. on the waiting list for an organ transplant.
Every 14 minutes, a new name is added to the list.
An average of 17 Americans die every year due to a lack of transplantable organs.
One organ and tissue donor can help save or enhance the lives of up to 50 people.
Vermont is ranked 50^th in the nation for the percentage of residents registered to be organ, tissue and eye donors.
Currently, the Vermont driver’s license is not linked to the state’s organ and tissue donor registry. So if you signed your driver’s license your requests are not recognized by the registry yet.
The Vermont registry currently has only 578 organ and tissue registrants.

I have lost a few people very close to me because they were unable to receive the necessary organ they needed to survive. I'm not sure if Vermont's numbers are so low due to lack of awareness or if people are choosing not to donate. I only hope that these startling facts will encourage you to register to be an organ donor. You can give the gift of life to someone after you've lived yours. Now that's pretty cool if you ask me.

If you'd like the chance to win this SWEET computer bag...and yeah, it's awesome to tote your laptop in the snow...here's how to enter!

1. Sign up on the Vermont Organ and Tissue Donor Registry by CLICKING HERE
2. Comment on this post below letting me know you've registered
3. And...oh wait, that's it! You've entered!

Want more contest entries??

1. Tweet this contest and be sure to include @DonateLifeVT and @katmaund in your tweet
2. Facebook this contest and post the link below in the comments section
3. Change your profile picture to the Donate Life VT logo found HERE and let me know you've done it
4. Become a fan of Donate Life VT on Facebook HERE
5. Use your creative genius to spread the word in other ways, just let me know!

Days 12-13 Reverb10: Body Integration & Action

2010-12-13T11:54:00.000-08:00

I'm participating in Reverb10, an online initiative happening each day of December, to encourage us to reflect on the past year and manifest what's to come. I'm always looking for blog ideas and suggestions, and Reverb10 offers a prompt each day to guide and spark ideas.

Day 11: "Body Integration. This year, when did you feel the most integrated with your body? Did you have a moment where there wasn’t mind and body, but simply a cohesive YOU, alive and present?"

Ah, this is a toughie. My body has lately been integrated with the couch or my bed seeing as that I've been sick for over a month now. I feel like a suitable answer would be yoga or meditation, but I'm not huge on those things. Now if we're talking when I felt most alive and present this year, I talk about my moment. You can read about it HERE in an earlier post.

Day 12: "Action. When it comes to aspirations, it’s not about ideas. It’s about making ideas happen. What’s your next step?"

I dream big. I have had more aspirations in my life than most children as my imagination runs ridiculously wild. As a child, I would dress up like astronauts, rockstars, and construction workers or I would recite monologues in my mirror or at the dinner table. The desire to please people and make a difference has been deep-rooted since I can remember. As I got older, I started to get embarrassed by my lofty aspirations and soon stopped talking about them and even thinking of them. As 2011 approaches, I want to bring these aspirations back into my mind, manifesting them into my future.

I want to tour the world playing music. I don't care if I'm a rhythm guitarist, a back-up singer, or even a roadie for a cool band. The performance bug bit me years ago and I can't get enough. When I go to live shows - as much as I obsess over music - I always leave feeling emptier than when I came. I have this insatiable longing to play music for people, entertain them, and express emotions that can't be put in words. I'm such a sucker for the arts.

There are a few steps I need to take like practicing, performing as often as possible, and networking. But as I mentioned earlier, my very first step is to imagine myself living that life. Picture what it feels like to be on stage playing music, making people laugh and dance. It's the power of positive thinking, using The Secret's philosophy. Here's to a musical 2011!

Day 11 Reverb10: Eleven

2010-12-13T07:30:00.000-08:00

And I'm on to day 11 a little late, but I'm still here! I'm participating in Reverb10, an online initiative happening each day of December, to encourage us to reflect on the past year and manifest what's to come. I'm always looking for blog ideas and suggestions, and Reverb10 offers a prompt each day to guide and spark ideas.

"11 Things. What are 11 things your life doesn’t need in 2011? How will you go about eliminating them? How will getting rid of these 11 things change your life?"

1. The radio. I don't need anymore bad music in my life, especially songs that are repeated every 23.7 minutes from the Top 40 chart. What I do need is more great live music, both to listen to and to play. I'm turning off the radio and turning on my amps.

2. Procrastination. I could wait to talk about this one but then...

3. FAT. I really don't need a free gym membership that I've never used. What I do need is to get back into shape so that I can better enjoy all aspects of a healthy lifestyle.

4. Financial Issues. I might be making just enough to be over the poverty line, but I can still budget my finances/discretionary spending better next year. I don't need financial stress because I can put food on the table, I have a warm bed to sleep in, and I know that if I were ever in serious need, there are places and people I could turn to for help.

5. Burlington, Vermont. I love this town. I really do. But it's time for a change of scenery. With a move comes all sorts of excitement - decorating a new apartment, meeting new people, discovering a new city, and so much more.

6. Imbalanced relationships. Mostly those relationships that take a whole lot out of you but never seem to replenish. I don't need those. And I don't need to feel guilty when I say no to relationships like that. It's always good to give unconditionally as long as we're being "recharged."

7. Excessive alcohol consumption. Don't get me wrong, I'm not one to binge drink every weekend. In fact, I've been rather well-behaved lately (with an accidental exception or two). I'd like to shift the paradigm about drinking socially. Whether it's business related or just to catch up with friends, everyone always wants to get a drink. In 2011, I'd like to catch up over a great home-cooked meal or a game of mini golf. It's healthier and more genuine.

8. Anxiety. Worry is such a thief. It steals our time, our optimism, and sometimes our dignity. It can cripple us. I'm a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. Prepare, but don't be anxious. I typically refer to Philipians 4:6.

9. A job with no career. There are lots of great jobs out there. Really. I have one! Unfortunately, some jobs offer no room for expansion or promotion. We call them dead-end jobs. I'd like to find a job on my career path that has opportunities for growth and learning.

10. Comparing myself to other people. Waste of time. I am not them and they are not me. Though a little healthy competition can be good, it is useless comparing myself to others and frankly, it just takes stabs at my self worth.

11. A life with no passion. If we aren't passionate about what we're doing, why are we doing it in the first place? I want to be passionate about my job, my relationships, my hobbies, etc. Cliche, I know, but you have to live a life you love and love the life you live. It's symbiotic. And awesome.

A little cleaning out is always good. What are some things you'd like to give up in 2011?

Day 10 Reverb10: Wisdom

2010-12-10T07:09:00.000-08:00

Woohoo it's Day 10! I'm participating in Reverb10, an online initiative happening each day of December, to encourage us to reflect on the past year and manifest what's to come. I'm always looking for blog ideas and suggestions, and Reverb10 offers a prompt each day to guide and spark ideas.

"Wisdom Wisdom. What was the wisest decision you made this year, and how did it play out?"

2010 has been a big year for internal growth and change. I've been focusing on what it is I truly want in life - career, relationships, musical endeavors - and how to accomplish it. Earlier this year I felt overwhelmed and pulled in multiple directions. Should I move closer to home to be near my family? What job will help me advance my career? Is this relationship really everything it should be? It was extremely difficult for me to take a step back to analyze my wants and needs. I needed to find some sort of balance and frankly, I wanted some objective advice.

The wisest decision I made this year was to start going to therapy. Growing up, therapy had such a stigma around it. If you went to see a therapist, you were weak, you had a serious mental issue, or you lived in Hollywood. Now, I view seeking professional help or guidance as a strength. I knew that I wanted someone else, professionally educated, to help me get to know myself better. No, I didn't exactly having "pressing matters" that needed tending to, but it can't hurt to check in and make sure life is going as smoothly as possible, at least the parts within my control.

Therapy helped me get to the core of who I am and pinpoint my desires in life. My confidence sky-rocketed because I was able to come to terms with and appreciate who I am. Because of the clarity I gained, I no longer stress about decisions. It helped me open my heart and be more vulnerable in relationships. My quality of life has immensely improved because I made the decision to let someone else help me. There's a lesson to be learned in asking for help no matter how large or small the issue.

We make so many decisions daily. What is the wisest decision you made this year and how has it affected you?

Day 9 Reverb10: Party

2010-12-09T10:18:00.000-08:00

I'm participating in Reverb10, an online initiative happening each day of December, to encourage us to reflect on the past year and manifest what's to come. I'm always looking for blog ideas and suggestions, and Reverb10 offers a prompt each day to guide and spark ideas.

"Party. What social gathering rocked your socks off in 2010? Describe the people, music, food, drink, clothes, shenanigans."

Since I already blogged about the infamous wedding celebration in the Baja, Mexico, I've chosen a different party to recount. I'll start off by saying that I absolutely love to entertain. Inviting people into my home, cooking for them, and all that goes along with it, is my favorite. If I could be a professional home entertainer, I'd do it in a heartbeat. I pay so much attention to detail when it comes to entertaining too. Decorations, drinks served, music playing, the food display...it's all meticulously premeditated.

I decided to throw a surprise birthday party (albeit, she was too smart to be surprised) for a very special person in my life in November. I made appetizers I knew were her favorite, invited all our friends to share in the celebration, and even made over 100 jello shots to decorate the tables where the food was served since she doesn't like traditional birthday cake. We also managed to obtain $75 worth of glowsticks for the occasion. The pictures are ridiculous.

We did the traditional surprise - lights off, she walks in, we yell at the top of our lungs. She was so gracious and thankful even though she knew it was coming. We stuffed our faces, probably had a few too many jello shots, danced around to "Beegy's Birthday Bonanza" playlist, and then headed down town to continue the celebration.

Though I had a blast preparing everything, the most rewarding part was having those closest to me laugh together and celebrate the life of someone who means so much to them and to me. I always want my home to be a place where friends come together.

Everybody loves to get down! What was your favorite party this year?

Day 8 Reverb10: Beautifully Different

2010-12-08T07:53:00.000-08:00

I have to count each stair as I step on it. I can tell you exactly how many stairs are in my home and most of the buildings I frequent because I've counted them so many times.
I crave adventure and spontaneity but I love to feel stable and secure. I'll go skydiving but you betcha I'll negotiate to get the price down because I need to feel financially secure.
I smell everything. I smell food, clothes when I buy them, and any other inanimate object someone might hand me. Like music, smells can take me back to a moment instantly.
I listen to new songs I like at least 50 times on repeat before retiring them to my iTunes library for regular play. I have to pick out and listen to each instrument, harmony, and percussion pattern. I'm one of those dorks that says "Hey, did you just hear how the tempo just transitioned from 3/4 to 5/8...that was crazy!" Blank stares ensue.
I don't like my food to touch on my plate and I have to eat each food separately before moving onto the next one. I think I just really love food and want to taste the essence of each dish without interference from another leaking into it.
I put my entire self into projects and people I love, even if it means getting hurt or exhausted. Though sometimes reckless with my heart, I know I won't experience the reward of being loved back if I don't love first. And let me tell ya, so far so good.

I want to know about your weird habits, your unique talents, and your off-putting characteristics. What makes you different and beautiful?

Day 7 Reverb10: Community

2010-12-07T10:48:00.000-08:00

I'm participating in Reverb10, an online initiative happening each day of December, to encourage us to reflect on the past year and manifest what's to come. I'm always looking for blog ideas and suggestions, and Reverb10 offers a prompt each day to guide and spark ideas.

"Community. Where have you discovered community, online or otherwise, in 2010? What community would you like to join, create or more deeply connect with in 2011?"

I live online - I'm constantly tweeting, Facebook stalking, reading blogs, and checking my email. If I haven't touched my phone for too long, I start to twitch and eventually break out into a full-on panic attack. Ok, maybe that's an exaggeration, but you get the point...I LOVE THE INTERNET. Because of my addiction, I've come across some really interesting and unique online communities.

I've recently infiltrated the local social media junkies community here in Vermont. It's important to me to engage the people that live around me, especially about a mutual interest. I appreciate the fact that not only can we tweet informative blog posts to each other and like one another's Facebook status, but I also like that we can meet at our favorite coffee shop to chat about a project or hit the slopes together. The more you engage in your community, whether it's online or in person, the better networker you become. This can lead to all sorts of opportunities!

As a self-proclaimed ADD adherent, I'm constantly trying new things and changing interests. As the snow comes down in Vermont, I'd really like to get more into the winter sports community, specially skiing. I'm going to don the latest winter fashion in hopes they'll accept me before I totally shatter my facade when I actually roll down the mountain, skis and poles trailing behind me.

Finding or creating a sense of community is essential in deepening fulfillment. It can also be really fun! What communities are you a part of and which ones do you want to join?

Day 6 Reverb10: Make

2010-12-06T08:40:00.000-08:00

I'm participating in Reverb10, an online initiative happening each day of December, to encourage us to reflect on the past year and manifest what's to come. I'm always looking for blog ideas and suggestions, and Reverb10 offers a prompt each day to guide and spark ideas.

"Make. What was the last thing you made? What materials did you use? Is there something you want to make, but you need to clear some time for it?"

I'm a pretty hands-on kind of gal. I love to create things, start new projects, and get a little messy. I tend to focus my projects on creating in the kitchen or making my apartment feel more like a home. I have this odd domestic side to me that I just can't seem to shake. Some times I think I might actually become a mature, homely woman. Yikes. In all honesty though, there's something really rewarding about using your hands to create, even if it has no worth or value to anyone but you.

I make a lot of things. I make a fool of myself on the daily, I make music as often as possible, I make a really mean bowl of chili, and I can probably make your mother angry with all the inappropriate humor I tend to use. The last thing I really made though, a project I really worked on, was an 8-track cd with my band Phineas Gage. Though we only recorded one original song, we busted our backsides in the studio.

We used guitars, a mandolin, drums, a bass, lots of really cool techy equipment that makes us sound good, mics, our voices, snacks, and copious amounts of red wine. It's a great feeling to come together and make something with other people that you're passionate about. The end result isn't a super-mastered platinum album from Columbia records, but we're all so proud of the work we put into it and if other people enjoy it too, we've done our job.

Don't worry, this post wasn't a shameless plug. But, if you'd like to check out what we made, you can click here.

What was the last thing you made and how did you do it?

Day 3 Reverb10: Moment

2010-12-03T10:21:00.000-08:00

I'm participating in Reverb10, an online initiative happening each day of December, to encourage us to reflect on the past year and manifest what's to come. I'm always looking for blog ideas and suggestions, and Reverb10 offers a prompt each day to guide and spark ideas.

"Moment. Pick one moment during which you felt most alive this year. Describe it in vivid detail (texture, smells, voices, noises, colors)."

I'm such a moment person. A fragrance, a song, a taste can send me right back to a specific time and place so vividly that I lose myself in that moment. As I mentioned in my first Reverb10 post, this has been a year of monumental growth for me in all aspects of my life. When I read the prompt this morning, I was immediately taken back to the night I realized I was falling head over heels in love. I could write novels about it, how it felt surreal, how I felt like we were the only two people in the entire room, and so on. Gosh, I will gush any chance I get! But there were a series of crucial moments that culminated, leading me to that place. My moment was in mid March in Todos Santos, Mexico.

One of my closest friends was getting married. It was numbingly cold in Vermont and I couldn't wait to get to warmer temperatures. Not only was I going to witness one of the most beautiful weddings I've ever been to, but it was going to be an epic reunion for my 3 closest friends from college (2 of whom had moved across the country after graduation). We had been planning this trip for months and it finally arrived.

When we had all gotten to the house where the wedding party was staying, cried tears of joy for being reunited, we grabbed a few beers and headed to the deck on top of the house. The air was salty, whales splashed their tales in the waves right in front of us, the sun was setting over the ocean, and I sat there more content than I have ever been. We all laughed so hard, I played guitar and we sang, and we probably drank a few too many cervezas. I remember thinking life doesn't get much better than this. I have my three best friends with me on the beach in Mexico and one of them is getting married!

In that moment, I knew all was right in the world. I knew that I deserved to be happy and have good things. I felt confident. More than anything, I felt alive and ready to take on life's challenges. I had my three best friends with me who love me unconditionally, make me laugh so hard I throw up, and always offer a shoulder to cry on.

I'm so thankful for that moment...that it inspired more memorable moments to get me here, in such a good place.

What's YOUR moment?

Day 1 Reverb10: One Word

2010-12-01T09:49:00.000-08:00

Task: Choosing A College

2010-11-18T20:08:00.001-08:00

Ah, fall. It's that scary time when students are starting new schools, applying for college, deciding what career path to choose upon graduation...daunting stuff if you ask me! My aunt and I were facebook chatting this evening and she expressed her concern for her daughter (and my cousin) to start the application process for college. She asked questions like:

What if she falls in love with a school but they don't have her major? What if she doesn't even have a clue what she wants to major in? How can I prevent her from making bad life decisions while away at school?

Sound familiar? I remember what a stressful time of year it was for me back in 2005 visiting colleges, trying to put the rest of my life into just 4 years at a university, all while doing it on a budget in a city I really like. There are so many aspects that go into choosing a college that fits, so here's my advice to my aunt and to others looking at colleges right now.

Choosing a major is important, but it's not the end all be all. I knew I wanted to major in something business-related because it was general and my dad did it too. I had NO idea what I wanted to do with it or if it was a good fit, but I knew it was smart and safe. So I narrowed down my schools by decent business programs and went from there. Little did I know until graduation that it really doesn't matter what you major in unless it is extremely specific like pre-med or vocal performance. Even then, you can ALWAYS change your mind. Don't ever feel like you're stuck in a major you don't enjoy just because you've put in a few classes.

Choose a college with great student life. A robust assortment of student activities is essential in finding "your purpose" at a school. We can't just be all about the academics. Getting involved on campus creates relationships, opportunities, and a sense of belonging to something a little bit bigger than yourself. Making good grades is important and studying should be a priority, but it's extremely rewarding to participate in groups and activities to create a cohesive bond with your institution and community.

For me, the location was essential. I went to school in Burlington, VT, one of the most scenic college towns I've ever been to or heard of. The view from our library overlooking lake Champlain and the Adirondack mountains is breathtaking. Burlington is a typical college town with lots of young people and cool hangouts, but there's also skiing/snowboarding just a few minutes away, a huge lake for watersports in the summer, a pedestrian-only street littered with great shops and restaurants, and there are other major cities (Montreal, Boston, etc.) just a few hours away if I ever want to take a quick trip.

Go with your gut. I applied to 8 schools including what I thought was my dream school and was accepted into 7 of them. Champlain College was actually at the bottom of my list because I had done the least amount of research on it and I didn't know anything about Vermont (quite a trek from Georgia). My parents insisted we visit even though I threw away my acceptance letter and after much debate, I gave in. There are a lot of great qualities that I love about Champlain, but the reason I enrolled was because I knew in my gut that I belonged there for some reason or another. I was right!

College is expensive, but it's worth a few student loans to get a great education and lots of life experience. No one wants to be in debt after graduation, but you can pay it back. You'll never ever have another experience like you will in college so if you ask me, there can't be a price tag on those four EPIC years of your life. Don't break your bank, but don't let finances keep you from going to a school you love. There are scholarships, financial aid, and work study opportunities. Take advantage!

It's a stressful time, but don't let all the details bog you down. Visit as many schools as you can, ask tons of questions, and know that you can make any college experience a fulfilling one.

What advice do you have for high school seniors??

***Photo credit: Steve Mease at Champlain College

When Is Enough Enough?

2010-11-04T11:09:00.001-07:00

I'm a go-getter. I put everything I am into the projects and people I'm passionate about. I almost never say no to someone who needs me for a project, committee, or opportunity and I love helping. Not only do I bend over backwards for others' needs, but I also give everything I have to my relationships.

Thoughtful gifts, meaningful conversation, passion, and care-taking...it's just who I am in relationships. I love going above and beyond to throw the best birthday parties for my friends and if we're in a romantic relationship, you better believe you'll get love notes on the mirror and be showered with an inappropriate amount of PDA.

If we never give ourselves fully, how will we really know what all life has to offer? I try to live by this theory, but sometimes when I'm down in the dumps after a failed relationship or I'm just too exhausted from people-pleasing, I have to ask myself, when is enough enough? If we're always overextending ourselves for others, how can we take of ourselves?

Balance is essential. In order to achieve that, sometimes we have to just say no. It's liberating to say yes to the things that fulfill you and no to the ones you don't want to do. That doesn't mean we shouldn't lend a helping hand every once in a while, but it's important to pick and choose how you spend your time. We have to take care of ourselves before we can take care of anyone else.

How do you find balance? Do you feel guilty for saying no?

From My Ears To Yours

2010-10-13T06:08:00.000-07:00

As I'm sure most of you know, I'm a music junkie. I'm a pretty big deal when it comes to perfecting the mix-tape and I challenge my vocals by harmonizing on every hip-hop song I hear. There are very few genres of music that I can't tolerate. From opera to classic rock, I love it all. I've been playing with a Vermont-based band, Phineas Gage, for about a year now and through all our musical endeavors, I've come across some pretty amazing tunes that I want to share with you.

For rainy days and long drives alone:

For a little emo, post-breakup bitterness and uncertainty:

To start a dance party with a Euro flair:

For sexy time...enough said:

For nostalgia:

For a sunny day, adding friends would be preferable:

I haven't figured out what mood I'm in when I hear this but it's so. so. so good.

The power of music is pretty amazing and I'd love to know what you're listening to. What songs are moving your feet or making you cry?

When Groceries Get Social

2010-10-06T08:37:00.000-07:00

I love discovering new online applications that are actually beneficial apart from being just fun. MyWebGrocer, a local company specializing in online grocery shopping, recently launched a Facebook application called Social Grocery. The basic idea is to create a "grocery list" to share with your friends. Sounds kind of boring, right? Who cares that I buy bananas and Vienna sausages on a regular basis? I started playing around with the application and realized pretty quickly that it can get hilarious and somewhat inappropriate...two of my favorite things.

I decided to create a Jersey Shore grocery list that is surely DTF. It included pickles (Snooki's favorite), pasta and meatballs, chapstick, tanning lotion, and a host of other guido and guidette favorites. You can view the list HERE. After posting the list to Facebook, I'm excited to see what entertaining lists my friends start to come up with.

Not only can Social Grocery be just another humorous application, but it also has some real value. I'm hosting a Halloween themed dinner this month and can't afford to front all of the expenses alone. I'm creating a grocery list to share with my friends where they can each comment on what they're bringing from the list. It saves us all time and avoids the ridiculously long email chains that look something like this:

Jane: "I'll bring all the ingredients for the body parts salad bar"

Bob: "Hey Kat, I'll bring grapes!"

Jane: "Wait Bob, I thought I was bringing grapes for the eye balls. Right?"

Me: "Bob, could you bring the strawberry syrup instead?"

Bob: "I already bought grapes! I guess I'll just bring monster mashed potatoes."

Me & Jane: "Ugghhh Bob..."

You get the point. 23 emails later, and you might have all the groceries you need for the party. Word on the street is that soon you'll even be able to purchase the groceries right from your list at the click of a mouse!

For entertainment's sake, check out Social Grocery on Facebook. If you see that it can be an effective tool for you and your friends, spread the word!

IT GETS BETTER

2010-10-01T07:48:00.000-07:00

It has come with great sadness that I write this. Raymond Chase, an openly gay student attending Johnson & Wales, hanged himself in his dorm room on Wednesday. He is the 5th LGBT youth to commit suicide in less than three weeks. Though his motive is still unclear, this tragic pattern is cause for great concern in the LGBT community. Suicide is not the answer - but when the bullying continues and the hateful remarks spew constantly, taking one's own life feels like the only way to make it stop.

I am here to say that it does, in fact, get better. It gets easier. And you learn how to cope with those hateful comments and brush them off as ignorance. Our society is progressing - not at a pace as rapidly as some of us would like - but we're getting to the place where sexuality is becoming a non-issue. Wouldn't it be nice to never have to explain your interest in the same gender the same way you don't need to explain your interest in the opposite gender? I think that day will come. Until then, there are myriad resources to help us cope with the discrimination we feel, the misunderstanding, and the feeling of being unloved.

The Trevor Project, focused on crisis and suicide prevention efforts for those in the LGBT community, is an extremely helpful and responsive resource. There is also a movement on youtube called the It Gets Better Project. People from all over the world, celebrities and regular folks like you and me, have submitted videos about their struggles with acceptance and how it will get better. The testimonies are inspiring, moving, and most importantly, encouraging. I would advise everyone to take a look through some of these videos, but I've posted one of the most touching below.

If you are an LGBT youth feeling misunderstood or discriminated against or know someone who is, please contact a representative at the Trevor Project (@trevorproject) or reach out to someone. We were born this way and we are loved.

Oh, I have a list for that

2010-09-29T10:35:00.001-07:00

It's definitely fall here in Vermont. The leaves are turning fiery shades of red and yellow, apple orchards are overrun with pickers, and the pumpkin spiced lattes runneth over. With the changing of the seasons, especially summer to fall, comes a sense of newness and fresh starts. It could be that this feeling was instilled in me from an early age as fall meant starting a new school year. Either way, I love the notion that I can "start over," or turn a new leaf...(no pun intended).

With this renewed sense of inspiration, I made a list of all the things I want to do this year, or at least start, and wrote down action items for each. One of the first items on my list read "get your blog going again you self-proclaimed social media enthusiast!!!" (I'm not into negative self talk, but I love an aggressive nudge from myself.) I was reviewing my LinkedIn profile and realized I listed blogging as one of my hobbies/interests. Not having blogged since April, I don't think that's the case. So here I am, back in action with lots of fresh ideas I can't wait to write about!

Another item on my list says "make more lists." I know it sounds silly and I've not been one in the past to make too many lists, but with the juggling I act I have going now between work, socializing, and the band, lists are not encouraged but essential to my organization and productivity. What is it about physically writing down - or typing - tasks that need to be accomplished that helps us? Well for one, it helps us remember what we need to do. Here are a few tips I've learned over the past few months to make your list the best it can be:

1. Use a format that speaks to YOU. I like to write down lists on a piece of paper and post it on my mirror, my desk, or wherever my eyes are usually focused. For you, it might be more beneficial to put it in your iPhone or use the sticky notes application on your Mac dashboard. Whatever your preference, make sure it's easily accessible!

3. Make lists for various time-lines. I have a daily to-do list, a broader weekly list, as well as a long-term goal list. For my broader lists, I use my daily list as an action point schedule. What can I accomplish TODAY that will help me achieve my weekly/monthly/yearly goal? Remember that what doesn't need to be done today, you can do tomorrow. Just be aware of the procrastination troll. He's a sneaky little bugger.

2. Prioritize tasks in order of urgency. If you need to pick up your little sister from soccer practice, you probably want to do that before happy hour with your co-workers...unless adding a DUI to your record is a priority. If that's the case, then maybe you should be reading THIS blog.

4. Make note of when you are most attentive and focused. I do my best work between 8:30-11 AM or between 8-midnight. Therefore, tasks I know I really need to focus on, I make sure I schedule them in those times. Tasks that are easier or don't take as much attentiveness I do at other times. See where I'm going with this?

And last but not least...

5. Reward yourself! Now I don't mean eating Ben & Jerry's every time you cross an item off your 10-task daily list, but you deserve to be rewarded for accomplishing everything you set out to do. Sometimes I'll splurge on a pair of shoes or sometimes I'll give myself a little extra time to hang out with friends if I felt really productive during the week. Whatever satisfies you most, do it!

If list-making feels too structured and not spontaneous enough for you, that's okay too. What methods do YOU use to organize your tasks?

You Hired Me. Let Me Do My Job!

2010-04-23T09:59:00.000-07:00

This morning I met with a colleague to discuss best Twitter practices and fill her in on some of the lingo. That conversation lasted about 10 minutes before we were discussing life...and I mean LIFE: goals, accomplishments, competencies, fears, expectations, family, etc. It turned into a literal counseling session sans an hour glass and a big fat check at the end. One of the topics that resonated with me was adapting to the dynamics of being a young professional in an "older" work environment.

Young people, mostly right out of college, are hired into established businesses because we are accredited with having fresh ideas and perspectives, vitality, and enthusiasm. We have new innovative ways to get the job done often leading to increased productivity and efficiency. Businesses like us when they need a "face-lift." I find this to be especially true for those of us knowledgeable about social media. As professor Elaine Young at Champlain College would verify, students are more comfortable with constantly evolving technology and can rapidly assimilate themselves into this "new media culture." We are learning the most relevant skills and proficiencies in the classroom - we're also USING them in our daily lives.

So, it's great to be a young professional working for an established company, right? Hmm...not always. If you're one of the lucky ones working for a start-up or progressive and evolving business, congratulations. Unfortunately, this isn't the case for most young people hired right out of college. We are hired for all the right reasons, but then micro-managed and treated like rebellious teens. Let me explain.

Employers know they need a fresh perspective but they typically don't understand the what's and how's of WHY we were hired. They flood us with the need for daily progress reports, to-do lists, deadlines, and we're constantly explaining and re-explaining our job responsibilities. It's especially difficult in rapidly changing industries where the jargon and responsibilities constantly evolve. Sometimes you just want to scream, "You hired me to do this. Let me do my job!"

In my short but sweet experience, I've found that patience really is the best virtue. Sometimes you have to sit your boss down and walk them through your day-to-day action tasks. More importantly, show them RESULTS. The more value you create in the company, the higher the company's ROI (return on investment) is for hiring you. Also remember that your employer made at least one right move by acknowledging the need to hire you for your special set of skills. The better you perform and the more they feel included, the less they'll micro-manage...we hope!

Are you just trying to do your job? What strategies do YOU use to appease the boss and encourage change in your company?

Hard Without Shoes

2010-04-09T06:55:00.000-07:00

TOMS Shoes is one of my favorite companies. Not only do they make super cute and comfortable shoes, but for every pair you buy, they give a pair to a child in need. To raise awareness of this issue - people who walk barefoot each day and fight diseases and sores because they have no shoes - TOMS sponsored the One Day Without Shoes campaign on April 8th. Students, colleagues, teachers, merchants, store owners, and more, all took their shoes off for the day to demonstrate their support.

My friend Carolyn and I started off the day with breakfast at Sneakers restaurant...ironic? They happily served us even though the establishment probably requires shoes. I was barefoot at work all day and even judged the Mr. Champlain competition last night with my toesies out. Though it's liberating for us to go just a day without shoes, the best part was being able to explain the reason to those who asked. "Yo, dude...where are your shoes? It's cold outside."

Not only did I get to raise awareness about how dangerous and unhealthy it can be for people to walk every day with no shoes, but I also got to promote a company and a product that I support. Two of my friends work at TOMS and they rave about the environment, the mission and vision of the company, and how darn cute the shoes are. What an AWESOME company culture...knowing that with each pair of shoes you help sell, will get a pair who doesn't have any. They call it One For One.

What do you "take your shoes off" to raise awareness for?

What Are You Waiting For?

2010-04-06T10:56:00.000-07:00

As June 1st rapidly approaches, I am yet again faced with the stress of finding a new apartment. Roommates move out, leases expire, jobs change, and the headache intensifies as each week passes. Even though the process of finding a new place and moving is a time-consuming process, there is something different under the surface that gnaws at me.

It's exciting to move into a new space and make it yours - paint the walls, buy new furniture, or plant a garden. I love change. In fact, I love change so much that being stagnant in one city for more than a few years is downright boring for me. I make moves; I don't sit around. Yet here I am again a year later after contemplating the same scenario...young, wanderlust, itching for a change, and settling into an apartment in the same city for a job I know "will be a good learning experience and provide great references."

To some that may sound great. Burlington is a beautiful city with lots to do, my job challenges me and offers me a lot of responsibility, I have a network of friends and colleagues, and I can drive around Vermont and not get lost. There's something really appealing about putting down yours roots and getting to know a city, in and out. I can't do it. I'm not sure how I will make it through another year and be fulfilled with this burning desire for newness. So that leads me to the question:

WHAT AM I WAITING FOR?

There are so many pros to putting down my roots here. I understand the magnitude of how fortunate I am to even have a job, and one that I enjoy! But it's not me. I can't settle down right now. Grace Boyle, in her blog post I'm a Wanderlusting Seeker, Not a Nester, says it right: "I am made up of exotic lands, new people, new colors, faces, different currency and cuisine, mountains, oceans, accents, regions, building a community from the ground up, struggling alone, and then learning independence by being outside of your comfort zone. The kind of independence that starts at the bottom of your toes and crawls up to your heart, entrenched in your brain that represents the support of others, but began with you. Alone." Why do some itch for change and others shudder at the thought of staying?

I'm a firm believer that something will happen someday and I will know that it's time to go and make moves. Until then, there are adventures to be had right where I am.

What attracts you to change? What drives you to put your roots down? For both, what are you waiting for to make it happen?

Wednesday Friendsday

2010-03-31T20:11:00.001-07:00

I'm all about mastering the art of keeping in touch. It can be a time-consuming and, at times, a rather daunting task, but it is important that I keep up with the people that have impacted my life as best I can. (I still chat with one of my summer camp friends that I met in 1999!) It doesn't take much these days to reconnect, especially with social media such as Facebook and Twitter. In fact, I spend time each week scoping out new pictures, relationships, and status updates to keep tabs on my friends and acquaintances.

Knowing our network better than we ever have before because of our online presence is defined in a phrase called "ambient awareness." It's sort of an all-encompassing knowledge of our friends' moods or state of mind due to their online behavior. It's almost scary how well we can pick up on lifestyle changes simply by checking out a few pictures or reading an away message here and there.

With all the technological "clutter" in our lives today, it is extremely important for me to pick up the phone or a pen and a piece of paper. There's nothing more exciting than getting some snail mail from an old pen-pal or high school classmate. Writing letters is becoming a lost art unfortunately. Heck, even e-mail is beginning to be an outdated or "too formal" form of communication.

How to you keep in touch with friends and family? Do you do anything unique to let them know that you're thinking about them?

Grab This Life by the Horns

2010-03-05T12:00:00.000-08:00

Today marks the 2 year anniversary of the death of my dear friend Eve Marie Carson. The class president of UNC Chapel Hill in her senior year, she was brutally murdered by two gang members seeking initiation. It was a heartless, cruel act and the sting I feel when I think about it has yet to be alleviated. These two young men, bereft of their senses and emotions, stole a life that wasn't theirs to take. Though I am deeply grieved by this loss, Eve's short time on this earth has inspired thousands of people.

Eve radiated generosity, kindness, tenacity for life, and love. She gave everything she had to those in need whether it was serving as a student leader at UNC or traveling all over the world giving back. It is evident the impact Eve had on the lives of others as thousands of people poured into the courtyard at UNC for her candlelight vigil. She touched countless lives and I am incredibly honored to have called her a friend.

She is my daily inspiration to live each moment to the fullest because we don't know when our time here will be cut short. With that in mind, I'm going to start creating my Bucket List. We have no excuse not to do everything in life that we want to. In the words of Edwin McCain we have to "grab this life by the horns and learn how to LIVE."

Rest in peace Eve Marie Carson.

Family Dynamics

2010-02-23T07:26:00.000-08:00

I've been having a lot of conversations about the relationships we have with our families and how that paves the way for the rest of our independent lives. What we are taught at home, though views and values can change over time, tends to stick with us throughout our lifetime. The relationship our parents have with each other (if one at all) typically sets the tone for the relationships we'll have as teenagers/adults. I have too many friends who have experienced failed relationships because they haven't been exposed to what a healthy relationship resembles.

We can overcome our circumstances at our own will, and I deeply respect those who have. I have a close friend whose mother has been having an affair since he was young. His parents haven't slept in the same bed since he can remember and they act like two adult roommates with a contractual agreement instead of husband in wife. Yet he has had successful relationships, both romantic and platonic, has a great job, his morals and values are admirable, and he is almost unscathed by the example his parents have set. So there is light at the end of the tunnel: we CAN be on top of our circumstances and not let them be on top of us.

I am barely an adult, not a wife, and definitely not yet a mother, but my family has taught me what it takes to "make it." No family is perfect and there is no ideal familial structure, but there are some things we can do to strengthen the bonds we have with each other.

1. Laugh together. Not only is laughter scientifically proven to make us feel physically better, but it brings people together. It also communicates joy without words or deeds.

2. Play together. Take time out of our busy week to have some fun and relax. Whether it's a game night, a sport that the whole family can get involved in, or a trip, it makes us feel good to have something in common that the entire family can talk about.

3. Eat together. I can't begin to describe the bonds that form during meals. My family sat down and ate dinner together almost every single night while I lived at home. It gave us a chance (whether we wanted to be there or not) to talk about our day, discuss problems or issues, and simply get to know each other better. Food brings people together. My BMI is an obvious indicator.

4. Celebrate together. Make it a point to get together for holidays, birthdays, and special occasions. Oftentimes when relationships are bumpy in families, the last thing we want to do is come together to avoid drama. Put the negativity aside, put your party pants on, and GO! It speaks volumes when we overcome ourselves to make someone else happy.

Boyfriends, wives, sons, grandmothers, uncles...there are myriad ways to bring the family together. What does your family do to get together and stick together?

What the Funk?

2010-02-18T19:17:00.000-08:00

A big sigh of relief escapes my mouth as five o'clock strikes. I pack up my computer, grab my coat, and B-line to my car avoiding all eye contact on the way. I throw my bag in the passenger seat, put the keys into the ignition, and hang my head low as I pause to catch my breath. Why am I so exhausted? I ask myself as I crank the engine. Ingrid Michaelson hums softly in the background as I back out of my parking spot and head home. I realize when I'm greeted by the familiar fragrance of clean laundry as I enter my apartment that I don't remember the drive home at all. I drop my belongings beneath the kitchen counter and plop down in a heap on my bed. What is wrong with me? I can barely swallow as the lump in my throat threatens my very breathing. Then...the tears pour out.

You know those days? I'm sure most of my female friends are familiar with this scenario. No, I'm not talking about PMS; I'm talking about those days when you feel like no one understands, no one gets it, and no one can make you feel any better. It could be that you aren't appreciated or respected at work, your partner just doesn't see eye-to-eye on an issue that holds significant value to you, your parents don't believe in your career aspirations, and so on. Whatever the issue, it makes us feel alone.

I had one of these days today. I couldn't put my finger on why I felt so alone. I feel valued at work, I have a career that my parents couldn't be prouder of, and I don't have a partner to argue with. In fact, I didn't even want to call a friend and vent because I didn't know what I needed to vent about! I sat at the edge of my bed and thought of things that make me feel better, more connected to humanity. Bingo! I picked up a few books by my favorite author and artist, Brian Andreas, and began reading. His books include a random assortment of (super) short stories, drawings, memories, dreams, and moments. He has a quote for every feeling ever felt, every moment ever experienced. I am so connected to his work that I feel like he wrote his books centered around MY life. I was flipping through one of them and I came across this quote:

"There are days I drop words of comfort on myself like falling rain & remember it is enough to be taken care of by myself." - Brian Andreas

What truth. I don't think it's necessary to interpret this quote, only to express the significance it had in instantly shifting my mood.

What do you do when you're in an emotional funk?

Change

2010-01-03T18:02:00.000-08:00

The other day I was riding in the car with a close friend after a quick, snowy trip to the grocery store when she grabbed my arm at a stoplight and looked at me square in the eyes. "Listen to this song," she said, laughed at how stark a contrast her mood had become, and began blasting a song called "Change" from Carrie Underwood's latest album. We sat and I listened, she blasted the music as the song came to an overwhelming climax, and I stifled tears as they burned in the corners of my eyes. We spent the rest of the day laughing and playing games, but something inside me ached.

It wasn't until tonight that I realized the source of this incredible angst that had plagued me all weekend...the kind of empty feeling you have in the pit of your stomach that isn't alleviated even after a full night's rest. The weight of the world and the desperation of humanity is manifesting itself in my gut, my head, my tired legs, and my overall being. She sings "do you tell yourself you're just a fool, just a fool - you believe you can change the world - the world's so big it could break your heart." What hypocrisy it is that my heart breaks over those in need yet I complain each and every day about not having enough. When is it enough?

The question so many of us ask ourselves is "what can I do to make a difference?"

I am by no means a scholar, a philosopher, nor did I even make the Dean's List in college. But after repeatedly asking myself this question and sorting through myriad possible answers, I think I've come to the simplest conclusion I know of.

LOVE.

Love for humanity. Practicing unconditional love. (Note that I said practicing as we are incapable of loving completely without regard.) How many times have we heard this? The Beatles tell us that all we need is love, the Bible says that love covers a multitude of sins, and Mother Teresa tells us that the hunger for love is much more difficult to remove than the hunger for bread. There are so many ways to share love for people. We can donate money, time, and efforts to a multitude of organizations, charities, etc. We can offer a helping hand to a neighbor, lend an ear to a friend, or even go as far as leave the comfort of our homes to seek out those in need.

I am overwhelmed by the endless possibilities of ways in which we can help through love, so much so that I don't even know where to begin. All I know is that it must start somewhere.

What do you do each day to make a difference in your workplace, your home, your community?

6 Ways to be Proactive in a Recession

2009-12-07T11:11:00.000-08:00

You can't turn on the TV, the radio, or bring up any online news source without hearing about the continued lay-offs that are happening throughout the US. Though there is a light at the end of the economic tunnel, we are still in the midst of some trying times for business owners and their employees. Your company might have maxed out their lines of credit, taken pay cuts in management, decreased their 401k contributions, or even stopped covering your gym membership. As the lay-offs continue, it is important to prepare yourself for the worst case scenario while remaining hopeful that you will keep your position. Here are 6 great ways to be proactive just in case the worst happens.

1. Network. Take some time each day to make a new business contact or reinforce an already existing relationship. In my (short, but in-depth) experience, you are more likely to get a job through a referral than by application only. Any upper hand in the application process (if you do, in fact, lose your current position) is essential as companies are seeing a rapid influx of applicants for jobs that previously had little competition.

2. Know Yourself. What skills have you obtained? Where do your talents and passions lie? It is important to know your strengths and weaknesses so that you can pinpoint the types of positions you can excel in. Remember also that it IS possible to create a business out of your passions. For example: If you love to cook, start a food blog and look for magazines, websites, or other publications to advertise on your blog. It's an easy way to make money and you'll enjoy it too!

3. Research. It never hurts to always be aware of what's available. Set some time each week to see updated job listings in your field. Talk to your friends and colleagues about the types of positions in your industry. Research other fields that you might potentially be interested in and figure out how your skills are applicable.

4. Google Yourself. These days, if you aren't in Google search results, you probably aren't considered to exist. What is the first thing employers do before hiring? They Google you. Make sure that you have a significant, positive online presence. Create a simple website for yourself, an online business card, a blog, Twitter account, and so on. In most cases, the greater your online presence is (assuming it's positive...not your mugshot posted to the NY Times homepage), the more credibility you'll appear to have.

5. Be creative. Just because you're a graphic designer doesn't mean you should look for only in-house graphic design jobs. Freelance is always a great way to make money and typically yields a higher return than working in-house. Contact smaller businesses in your area by sending a friendly hello and offer your services at a "reduced rate." Give out your business card to anyone who will take it. Think outside of the box as often as possible!

6. Stay positive. I can't stress this enough! Remember that it could always be worse. Getting down in the dumps about the whats ifs is a waste of time and will distract you from the goal in mind. Keep your head up and continue being the best at what you do. You might not lose your job. In fact, you may have discovered a way to create a job that's even better for you!

Are you worried you'll lose your job? Is your management threatening lay-offs? What ways are YOU being proactive?

Price-Conscious Shopping!

2009-11-18T08:31:00.000-08:00

As the holidays approach (rather quickly, I might add!), we are all trying to figure out the most efficient and convenient ways to shop while being money-cautious. In light of the economy, most of us are shopping for deals, waiting to buy that TV on Black Friday, and collecting coupons. I've put together a list of really great online shopping websites that I buy from regularly to help you save money and time!

1. Woot! Oh my goodness, I just LOVE woot.com! Woot puts up one product each day at a discounted rate. It can be hit or miss with some of the products they advertise (depending on your preference!), but you won't find deals quite like it anywhere else. I check woot every day just to see if they've posted something I'd like. Sometimes they have a "woot off!" and they post a product until it sells out and then they will post another one. I've found some amazing deals on electronics there! There is also wine.woot, shirt.woot, kids.woot, and sellout.woot.

2. Overstock! I'm sure you've all seen the Overstock commercials and their big, red "O." To this day, I haven't been disappointed with any purchases I've made there. They also have free shipping on your first order and when you buy a gift card.

3. Amazon! My favorite place to buy used products. I love that you can see how much they sell products for new as well as used. They also have a page with daily deals. Who doesn't love Amazon?!

4. Whiskey Militia! Kind of like woot but with clothing. They sell an item until it sells out and then they move onto another. I was just introduced to this website and I love it! They also advertise for Dogfunk (listed below).

5. TigerDirect! A great site for computers and electronics. They also offer free shipping on almost all of their products. Not great for mac user equipment, but it's awesome for "non-denominational" electronics.

6. Dogfunk! Discounted snowboards, equipment, and apparel. I had to post it...I live in Vermont!

7. Backcountry Outlet! Awesome outdoor gear. Tons of great brands that I love and I always find great deals!

8. Cheaptickets! I use cheaptickets to view the lowest prices for flights, but then I go straight to the airline to book the actual flight unless there are multiple carriers involved. Regardless, it's a great way to see the cheapest fares.

What websites do you use to find discount prices? Feel free to share your favorite online shopping tips, tricks, and websites!

One Day Series: Richard Dedor

2009-11-16T10:20:00.000-08:00

Richard Dedor makes his home in Kansas City, where he operates his speaking and training company Richard Dedor Communications. Richard believes that each of us has the ability to overcome any obstacle in addition to having a positive impact on those around us. He has spent the last ten years volunteering for community groups, working in politics and the non-profit sector. When he was 18, Richard ran for mayor of Mason City, Iowa, a town of 30,000. This campaign propelled him into the national spotlight. He finished third, but proclaimed on election night that it had been a victory. He holds a degree in public relations and is currently working on his first book. You can check out his blog HERE!

Here at Makin Moves, Katherine is asking the question, “If you had one day left, how would you spend it?” Here is my answer:

I’ve often thought of my final day, my final moments. What will I be feeling? Who will be around me? Will I feel complete at my final moment? I have never been able to answer or completely grasp the answers to those questions. But in recently reading Tuesdays with Morrie, I have found the answers lie in the days before the final day.

My “Life To Do” list is long and will take me a lifetime. So I hope I’m not faced with this question until every item is checked off. In my life I want to visit France and Slovakia, and see the works of Michelangelo. I want to touch the lives of people around me. I want to cry. I want to hug. I want to love.

On my last day, I will do everything I can to do everything one last time. I will wake up early as I am known to do. I’ll make a cup of my favorite coffee and drink it on my porch, watching the sun come up and the world come to life. Soon after, I’ll go for a run. It will be a perfect run. The wind in my face, the feel of my lungs pounding through my chest. I will be alive.

I’d gather some friends for a fun lunch at a local cafe. The mood would be lite and of course, they’d be making fun of me for something. It happens today so why shouldn’t it happen on my last day? We’ll reminisce, but also talk of the future. Of our next lunch together. We’ll talk of our dreams and our failures. We’ll share the moments we’ve had in between. We’ll say farewell with a long, close embrace.

I may read in the afternoon or maybe I’ll pick up the tennis racquet one last time and hit a few with my best friend. He won’t let me win, but that’s the way we are. I’ve always been a competitor, so why stop now?

There are so many foods that I enjoy, how can I pick a last meal? It could be sushi or Italian or pizza or pasta or chicken or a great, big, juicy cheeseburger. No matter the food, I will again with friends at this, my final meal. It won’t feel like it though. It again will be fun and there will be talk of sports and upcoming events and past moments of joy. And again, I’ll be the butt of jokes.

I will want to spend some time writing. There are things I’ll want to say to people. Notes of thanks and of love. Of appreciation for kindness never forgotten and words never shared. I’ll kiss my loved ones good-night and crawl into bed. I’ll be at peace. I’ll know that I gave my life to love. I’ll believe in the power of my memory to keep changing lives. I take my last breath and deliver myself back to the Universe. I will be at peace. That will be my final day.

(Flickr photo via eelssej)

One Day Series: Jackie Adkins

2009-10-22T09:34:00.000-07:00

Jackie Adkins is a young marketer who loves to learn from and connect with others and tries to never take himself too seriously :-) Check out his blog The Curbside Marketer or follow him on Twitter.

In answering the question "if you had one day left, how would you spend it," Jackie posted:

I'll be honest and say that I've never thought much about what I would do if I knew I only had one day left to live (mainly because it's pretty depressing to think about), so this is definitely a challenging scenario to go over in my head. Basically, what it comes down to for me is I want to 1. Have fun, 2. Be sure I have fun with those I love, and 3. Give everyone something to remember me by, so my day would unfold something like this...

First of all I'd wake up super early because why would you ever want to sleep in on your last day on earth? I'd probably want to fix a nice big breakfast for me, my family, girlfriend, and whoever else wants to join. To be honest, I'm not really sure if I'd want to tell everyone it WAS my last day alive because that would be a total debbie downer move. I don't want to have a pity party for me, I just want to enjoy my friends and family, have fun, and go out with a bang! I'd definitely squeeze in a game of soccer at some point during the day and would also include ice cream, brownies, cookies, you name it. Why eat healthy at this point? I'd take some time to call some of my closest friends to just check in on them and somehow slip in how much they mean to me.

Something else I'd like to do is write some sort of note/letter that is sort of the ultimate "remember me, don't worry about me I'm in a better place, live every day like it's your last, and I love you" type note. Obviously, it'd come off way better than that :)

I've also always thought it'd be cool to save someone's life from a burning building or something because, since I know my time is short, I might as well put it to use and try to save someone else's life. Everyone wants to be a hero, right? So I guess at night I may walk around town looking for a burning building.

So that's definitely all over the place and there's plenty of holes in my day, but how boring would it be to plan out your entire last day minute by minute?

One Day Series: Matt Cheuvront

2009-10-21T07:32:00.000-07:00

You may know Matt Cheuvront because you've read his blog Life Without Pants: A Twenty Something Perspective On Life A Little Less Restricted. As the networker and best friend she is, Grace Boyle introduced Matt and I a few weeks ago and I asked him to respond to the question "if you had one day left, how would you spend it."

Here's a little about Matt taken from his blog bio: Twenty-three years old, newly engaged, and in my new home of Chicago, Illinois. I’m passionate about relationship marketing and social entrepreneurship, forging connections and encouraging interactivity amongst people in every way possible. Striving for the added bottom line of giving back to others. We’re put on this earth to ask questions, to challenge one another, to inspire one other to be great. That’s where I come in. I’m an agent who inspires greatness – living life by the moments, without really knowing what tomorrow may bring.

Matt

If Today Was Your Last Day from mattChevy on Vimeo.

And I'm still asking the question and looking for your answers! If you'd like to participate, you can post your blog link in the comment section below or email it to me at kcmaund at gmail dot com.

One Day Series: Grace Boyle

2009-10-12T09:25:00.000-07:00

My partner in crime (and life) Kat Maund got her blog back up and running. Being the motivated vixen she is, she’s already hosting a series asking, “If you had one day left to live, how you would you spend it?”

No doubt, a hard question. So on my plane ride headed West to the Bay area this past weekend I contemplated and scribbled down some thoughts on how to answer this infamous question. During some rocky turbulence I started to make headway, this is what I came up with:

A day isn’t a lot of time. I think answering a month or a year left to live would be easier. I’m up for a challenge, so I broke it down in segments, sort of by hour.
I would spend the first few hours of my day writing notes and letters of gratitude to all the people that I love and have been hurt by (no matter where they live). I’m a closure kind of gal and quite literally, life is too short to not appreciate those you love and the ones that I’ve hurt or have hurt me. I look at these letters as a hello, good-bye, thank you, I love you, you’re special to me, always will be. This includes: ex-boyfriends, lost friends, best friends, extended family, people I met once on a train in Europe, etc.
I would then choose to be home with my family and friends. We would open our best bottle(s) of wine, cook together, reminisce, tell stories and enjoy delicious food.
Pictures are very important to me - I want to relive my life by going through my photo albums (on and offline). I feel like this helps you appreciate your life, where you’ve been, what you’ve done. In addition, I want to write and remember my successes starting from the very beginning of my life to present day. If I haven’t written a book by then, this can be like my memoir - my contribution.
Finally, I don’t like to say good-byes in life. I imagine, I want to say “Until next time…” because there are no real good-byes. A challenging life situation no doubt, I want to soak in the happiness instead of the despair. I would spend a few moments alone, forgiving myself of any mistake I felt I made, reflecting on the beauty of my life, the risks I took and finally, feeling at peace.

One last thought it that, I do not want to feel like I need to be pushed to do any of the above things. I hope I infuse my life everyday, leaving nothing unsaid and choosing happiness.

So with that mindset, I will leave you with the questions: What do you want to do today, that you haven’t yet? What are you waiting for?

Photo Credit: Jerry K.

One Day...

2009-10-06T06:54:00.000-07:00

Someone once asked me, "if you had one day left to live, how would you spend it?" I stammered out a few uuuhh's and said I'd have to get back to them later. What would I do?? My first thoughts went to my family and then immediately to thrill-seeking activities such as skydiving and bungee jumping. There are so many things I would want to do/accomplish...how could I choose?

My thoughts drifted back to my family and friends. I think I would spend the entire day with them eating all my favorite foods, playing guitar, and just relishing in the companionship and love we have for each other. The day would be filled with lots of laughter, reminiscing, and getting in touch with those I've lost contact with just to say hello and that I'm thinking of them. Not to get too sappy, here...
Apart from the slight morbidity of the question, I think the responses could be fascinating and inspiring. I've asked a few of my friends in the blogging community to answer this question in a guest post. I would love to hear from you as well! If you'd like to be featured, you can e-mail your response and a brief bio to kcmaund at gmail dot com or post it in your own blog and comment me the link!

"Skills are cheap, passion is priceless”...can I get an amen?!

2009-10-05T09:52:00.000-07:00

The platonic love of my life, Grace Boyle, introduced a little contest on her blog [Small Hands, Big Ideas] that totally caught my attention. The premise of the contest is to define and demonstrate how we crush it, a phrase coined by Gary Vaynerchuk whose book is coming out October 13th. Here's a lil something on how I crushed it, am crushing it, and will continue to crush it until I say my goodbyes to this world.

Gary says, "skills are cheap, passion is priceless." For years and years, we are taught to study hard, do our homework, and behave so that we can successfully take that 'next big step'. For me, I did the aforementioned to get into a fine arts middle/high school, did it again to get into a reputable college, continued down that track to get a good job...and now what? I'm left with a lot of skills on how to study, how to do homework efficiently, and how to take tests. You can learn any skill, but you can't learn passion. My life experience has erupted a volcano of passion for various things in my life, and learning the skills to pursue those was the cheap and easy part.

I have a passion for people: friendships, family ties, business relationships, smiling at strangers in the street. I love communicating with people in all forms. This is a passion.

I learned how to leverage social media and networking for profit in college: Twitter, LinkedIn, Blogs, etc. This is a skill set.

I am now crushing it as the Social Media Marketer for a voice over training and demo production company called Such A Voice. Because I was able to identify my passion for people with an obtainable skill set and profitable industry, complete job satisfaction suddenly becomes familiar and, dare I say, obtainable! Though I haven't read Gary's book yet, I would imagine his thesis goes a little something like this: Do what you love today and tomorrow will pay the bills. It's a glorious day indeed when you not only discover your passion, but find a way to profit from it. Passion Profit. Crush it.

5 Steps to Land That Job!

2009-09-22T11:53:00.000-07:00

After going back and forth between different blog hosts, I've decided to stick with blogger for a while until I feel sophisticated enough to install a Wordpress blog. Hooray! With that said, let's get into the good stuff...a recap of sorts. I'm currently working as the Social Media Marketer for a company called Such A Voice. We offer the most comprehensive voice over training program and demo production. Basically, if you've always dreamed of recording that scary movie trailer or your favorite car commercial, we're the folks that can teach you how to do it.

It's pretty cool to have a job in my field right out of college with a company that has been thriving in the recession. It seems like only yesterday I was raging on Twitter searching for almost any employment opportunity, beefing up my resume on LinkedIn, and networking like it was my job...because it was. I've been asked by quite a few people how I landed such a great career right after graduation. I wanted to say that it was because of my intellect, extensive background experience, or my undeniable good looks. Instead, it all came down to these few things.

Let me first say that in no way am I any kind of expert or have the end-all, be-all solution. I simply used the tools I had available to make it happen. Here is a list of specific steps I took to land a job in my field of study.

1. NETWORK, NETWORK, NETWORK.
I landed my SMM position because I had a previous internship mentor that knew of a business I could offer my know-how to. (Essentially, I identified the need for them to establish an online presence and it got me the job.) The more people you know and engage with, the more opportunities will present themselves. I am constantly on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and other various social networking sites learning as much as I can about my field and engaging with other professionals. Whether you're into pottery or ice cream tasting, the more people you can reach out to and the more people who know about you...well, do the math!

2. If you don't have relevant job experience, CREATE IT!
I knew that I had a knack for social media and saw it as a marketing strategy. Because I hadn't exactly held a position (other than a brief internship) that dealt with social media, I decided to create one. I managed a fund-raising campaign for my China MOJO trip and used social media to do it. I was proving to potential employers that I could translate sales (or funds) from social media marketing. If you want to sell insurance, sell something else that proves you are a successful salesperson! If you want to be a project manager, head up an outreach committee.

3. Be flexible!
In this economy when we're strapped for cash, you can't be too picky. But that also doesn't mean you have to settle for a crap job. Maybe you should consider looking for jobs outside of just one area. For instance, I was set on moving out of Vermont and didn't bother looking for jobs here. When I realized the severity of the recession, my best bet was to use my resources here as they were plentiful compared to elsewhere.

Also, the job you initially get may not be your dream job (and at 22, that's okay!), but there is almost always room for growth. My position started more as an administrative assistant and social media was a side project. As my bosses began to see the results, my job description slowly transitioned into focusing all my efforts on internet marketing. If you can demonstrate the need in a company for YOUR skill set, do it! Who wouldn't want to do what they enjoy and are good at?

4. Demonstrate a willingness to learn.
I can't stress this one enough. Because jobs are fewer and farther between today, there are going to be a heck of a lot more people competing with you for a position. Even if your skill set isn't completely relevant to a potential position, if you display an eagerness to learn, employers will take note. Just because you might not be the best candidate for a job on paper doesn't mean you can't land that job!

5. Apply, interview, and follow-up.
The worst case scenario after applying for a job is the employer says no but has your resume on file. You may not always know the specific reasons you didn't get hired. It could be that they simply filled the position but may have an opening down the road. The more positions you apply for, the more potential employers have your resume on file. Also, the more interviews you participate in, the more polished your answers will become. It never hurts to practice! Lemme tell ya, I know...

When asked if they've heard anything about a job, so many of my friends struggling to find work say "the employer never called." After you've applied for a position, follow-up with the employer! Some people prefer handwritten 'thank you for considering me for this opportunity' letters and others prefer a phone call. It's important that employers remember you. Do something unique to remind them that you are, in fact, the best thing since sliced bread...without going overboard and sending them an edible arrangement. I recommend calling the employer if you have not heard about the status of your resume/application. After an interview, I recommend writing a handwritten thank you card, just a few sentences long. It's good etiquette and it makes you stand out among the rest.

Are you a young professional working your dream job? Are you a recent graduate that landed a great career opportunity? What steps did you take to make it happen?

China Mojo is causing China stress!

2009-02-19T08:09:00.000-08:00

Not only am I taking 6 classes, doing an intense internship, serving on multiple committees and boards, AND maintaining a relatively normal social life, but I'm trying to raise $3000 to go on a social media and mobile journalism trip to China in June. WHEW! I've been sending my prayers to the Big Man and coercing all of my friends to sign up on the program's website. I get $5 for every person that signs up and puts my full name (Katherine Maund) as a reference. Want to help out without having to donate any money?! I am eternally grateful to all those who have donated and signed up on the website.

Go HERE to my official web site to read more details about the trip as well as to donate or scroll down to see the donation widget. Any amount is so helpful! Our social networking and fundraising skills are really being put to the test. Thank you in advance for your donation of fund, word-of-mouth, and time. :)

Kat goes to CHINA!!

2009-02-12T15:56:00.001-08:00

I'm raising funds to go to Western China the first two weeks of June for a mobile journalism and social media adventure. A group of about 10 students from colleges across the United States are getting together as Ningxia Dragon Student Ambassadors to participate in the China MOJO (mobile journalism) experience. We will be encountering extraordinary cultures, performing community service, starting a global participatory learning community, and documenting the whole thing! You can read more HERE. We will be Twittering, blogging, vlogging, filming, photographing, and using numerous other social media tools to document the experience.

With your help, we will be able to experience the Western Chinese lifestyle, a culture rarely seen by westerners. This journey will provide us with an opportunity to experience the possibilities for cultural ties and learning that will represent a real building block in creating the future, in a global economy, that we will want to live in and make a positive contribution to. As I'm sure you're well aware, the appeal for me is the social media and web 2.0 focus. I've been bitten by the travel bug, but the opportunity to take social media tools to a relatively undeveloped part of China is an outstanding opportunity. We will be bringing in technology that some of these schools have never fathomed and we get to teach them how to use it.

I appreciate the support I've already you've already given ,e and hope that you will consider donating or simply spreading the word. Thank you!

Together We Can Fight Cancer

2009-01-14T14:06:00.000-08:00

In an effort to raise awareness as well as funding, I am joining my friend Meghan in the mission to stop blood cancer (leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma, and myeloma) from taking more lives. She will be participating in an endurance event in April and has pledged to raise at least $3100. You can visit her website HERE to make a donation. Even the smallest donation is helpful and if you are unable to give at this time, spreading the word about this worthy cause is imperative.

A close friend of mine has a sister that battled Hodgkin lymphoma and is now in remission. I think most of us can say that we've been both directly and indirectly affected by cancer and supporting the efforts of those seeking a cure is monumental. Regretfully, I oftentimes ignore requests for donations, though for worthy causes, because I don't feel connected to the cause. In light of my New Years resolutions, I won't ignore these requests anymore...and even if I can't donate money (especially on a college budget), I will spread the word. I also feel a direct connection to this cause and think it is essential that we find a cure. Cancer has taken the lives of many of those close to me, those close to my friends, and millions more I've never met.

I hope you'll join Meghan and myself in our efforts to support blood cancer research. As I mentioned above, if you cannot give at this time, all I ask is that you tell just one other person. You can blog about it, talk about it, Tweet about it, Facebook it, etc. Use those social networking tools to support this worthy cause. Once again, HERE is the website to make a donation. Thank you in advance for your efforts and generosity. I can't say enough about how crucial it is to fund cancer research.

10 Media Revelations using Feed, Media/Society, Amusing Ourselves to Death, and Project Censored 2009

2008-12-16T16:40:00.001-08:00

1. Ambient Awareness

Social scientists say ambient awareness is very much like being physically near someone and picking up on his mood through the little things he does — body language, sighs, stray comments — out of the corner of your eye (Brave New World of Digital Intimacy). It’s this idea that through a constant stream of Facebook status updates, news feeds stating someone’s every online move, and tweets, we can determine their mood, agenda, and even well-being without ever picking up the phone or even engaging in an online conversation.

In some ways, the value of face-to-face contact is lost. Deep, meaningful relationships are somehow detracted from because when you finally get together in person, you already know everything about that person because of their online identity. However, through online social networking tools, we actually know more about everyone than ever before and, in a sense, sometimes feel much closer to them.

2. Education as Entertainment

Teachers are being forced to “amp it up” in the classrooms due to students’ constant interaction with media as entertainment outside of the classroom. Utilizing technology and tools such as the internet is becoming increasingly more important to keep students’ attention. Our attention spans have become much shorter now that the answers we need are a few clicks away.

In Feed, the corporations that owned the “schools” had teachers only teach students how to use their feeds – where to find jobs and how to decorate your home. Teachers weren’t there to give students knowledge but to teach them how to get it using their feeds. Postman also discusses this in his chapter “Teaching as an Amusing Acitivity” saying that children are much more engaged in educational television shows such as Sesame Street than a teacher in the front of the classroom writing on the chalkboard. Education has to be somewhat entertaining to hold students’ interest in this new media age.

3. Ownership of Media

Media are business and commercial interests and it is crucial to know who own the medium being produced so that the intent of the message is clear. In Media and Society on page 34, it states that owners of media influence the content and structure of media products by their decisions to hire and fire certain personnel, to fund particular projects, and to provide a media platform to certain speakers. There is a great example of this in Feed on page 158 where if you spoke to your friends about the great taste of Coca Cola one thousand times, you got a free six-pack of it. The kids would do it for hours thinking they could rip off the corporations.

4. Election Fraud

Project Censored talked about a few newspapers (including the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, and others) that reported Bush’s win in the 2000 election even though the recount actually proved that Gore had won. Election fraud is a huge problem in the United States and has been for a long time yet American news won’t report it. At least until this year, news only reported “broken voting machines” and “kiosk malfunctions.” There were never reports of vote switching, purposeful voting machine malfunctions, and hidden ballots.

The following election year, there was a 12:1 vote switching ratio from Kerry to Bush, voting kiosk shortages, and an electoral vote that was inversely related to the exit polls/popular vote. As Postman refers to, the media presents so many positives of the election process that it stifles the negative, but imperative, aspects.

5. Is Google Making Us Stupid?

In Nicholas Carr’s article, he claims that the convenience and speed of the internet coupled with our online habits is inhibiting our information processing skills and is affecting the depth of our thinking. Our attention spans are decreased making it extremely difficult for some to even sit down and read a book. Search engines, such as Google, require a few key words and it does all the rest for us. Postman relates television to this concept of an overload of information right at our fingertips makes us quite the lazy society. We rely on information to be dispersed to us with the click of a mouse or the press of a button.

6. Normalization of Social Behavior through Media

Normalization is when subconscious media use the power of pattern to create what is perceived as “normal.” Media & Society tells us that the media gives us pictures of social interaction and social institutions that, by their utter reputation on a daily basis, can play significant roles in shaping broad definitions. In Feed, we see a perfect example of perceived “mainstream” when Titus invited Violet to their first party together. She is thrilled about going to a “real” party and asks if it will be like it is on the feed (Feed 79). An example of this is how the media portrays beauty as skinny, sometimes even emaciated.

7. No News is Objective
With media conglomerations, hidden agendas, and propaganda, it is impossible to get objective news and sometimes news in general! So many stories go unreported because it would hurt networks, tick off an investor, or portray an image that the American public should not be exposed to. News channels such as Al Jazeera are blocked from most American stations because it could quite possibly promote terrorism and show the ugly sides of the war that the government is hiding. Project Censored shared a story about how over one million Iraqis have died since America invaded. You won’t hear this in the news ever. The media won’t disseminate certain stories or will skew them beyond truth for so many ulterior motives that most of America will never know about.

8. Media Integration/Multi-tasking

In Feed, we are met with a group of teenagers set in a futuristic world where uber-technology has converged electronics and telecommunications into the human brain – thus, the feed. It combines everything we know today about electronics and communication, data collecting and corporate power and made humans to be completely dependent and obsessed with consumer culture. The girls even change their hair styles in the course of a day because the feed tells them when new things are in style and others are out (Feed 20). Media & Society reminds us that the “increase in media options in recent years has even led to an increase in multi-tasking,” or using more than one form of media at a time.

9. Media Transforms Politics

On page 129 in Postman’s Amusing Ourselves to Death, he talks about how presidential campaigns are based on a series of 30-second commercials that provide engaging visual imagery and media techniques instead of providing hard facts about what that candidate believes in and is running for office to change. In the videos we watched in class of McCain and his mother as well as one Obama did, there was no talk about HOW the candidates were going to change our economy. Instead, there was an image portrayed that would sway people one way or the other. After watching the McCain video, I felt like if I were rich and retired, I would crack open a bottle of scotch and vote for him. Obama’s video was directed more toward the working man who is struggling with the economy today. Instead of getting facts, we were given personality.

10. Does the Media Shape Our Culture or Reflect it?

Our Media & Society book says that socialization is the process through which we learn the values, norms, and beliefs of our culture. We go to school or soccer practice and interact with other people. We take cues from our parents and our surroundings when learning how to act. Yes, our background and upbringing most definitely influence our behavior, but the media play a significant role in shaping us. It’s difficult to determine if the media shape us or if we shape the media because of our desires. If there were no media, we wouldn’t want that new Louis Vuitton purse because we wouldn’t know about it. The media create needs and wants that we didn’t know existed. Our generation is obsessed with knowing the latest trends, celeb gossip, and discovering everyone’s mood by their online moves.

The Holidays are approaching!

2008-11-29T14:57:00.001-08:00

There are so many fun ways to show your family that you're thinking of them during the holidays. :) Like Elf Yourself, here's another "greeting card". I have one good looking family if you ask me!

In case you asked...even though you didn't.

2008-11-24T07:41:00.000-08:00

I'm combining my blogs into one now that my contemporary media issues class is coming to a close. This only consists of adding one measly entry to the blog and doing a little bit of a face lift. It's my goal to blog at least a few times a month, but I lost some momentum after the "Debunking soul mates..." post due to its length and intense thought requirement. I've exhausted myself of all writing and thinking skills...okay, not really.

I've recently jumped on the bandwagon and now have a Twitter account. I've been very successful in "following" experts in social media. I can access links through "tweets" that these experts post and read articles about Web 2.0 and other areas of interest. Fascinating stuff.

I came across a Twitter Grader that literally grades your stats - tells you how popular you are on Twitter. I'm in the upper 300 thousands out of a little over 400,000 users. Guess I should lure in more followers with my minute-to-minute status updates and witty remarks. Will our popularity soon be determined by how many followers we have on Twitter or the amount of friends we have on Facebook or MySpace? Scary how Web 2.0 has altered our social scene.

On another note, the ladies are competing against the gents in my media class to see who can utilize their social networking tools to gain the most hits on this video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QfnGOiFJUoo. This is my attempt to convince you to peep the vid. It's about 1% for the Planet, an awesome organization that takes 1% of member companies' profits and donates them to the environment. Awesome stuff and the video has some beautiful images. The song playing is "Sunshine" by Matt Costa. Enjoy! (Oh, and tell your friends.)

Sustain Champlain & Campus Activism

2008-11-03T16:46:00.000-08:00

My Media Experience

2008-09-12T10:27:00.000-07:00

My first experience with media began at the tender age of 3 days old. As the story goes, my dad was driving my mom and me (a wide-eyed, fidgety infant) home from the hospital while blasting the 9th inning of the Atlanta Brave's game on the radio. "We" (as later learned I, too, was destined to become part of the "we" as a Maund), lost the game. My Dad pulled the car over so he could blow some steam off on the side of the road. My mom laughed.

I obviously have no recollection of much until about the age of 3, but it's always an amusing story to hear and explains my passion for sports. I recall sitting with my grandmother on summer nights watching baseball when she came to visit, UGA and Auburn football on the weekends, and music of all varieties played in our house at all other hours. My first word was 'moon' because I would go outside with my dad in the morning to get the newspaper before the sun had risen. He would read the front page news to me every day until I became better acquainted with stringing "more adult" words together. I'd also sit in our band room attached to the garage and listen to him solo on his electric guitar over a cassette tape of Stevie Ray Vaughn for hours until my ears rang.

As for the television, my watching time was limited as a child. I could watch one hour of TV a day before I started my homework and sometimes I was allowed to watch James Bond with my dad before I went to sleep. I don't remember much of what I watched except for the Christian channel because I would imitate Pat Robertson from atop the coffee table in the living room during family gatherings. My parents weren't too strict when it came to my exposure to the media, but they had a very stealthy way of encouraging me to stay away from inappropriate TV shows (such as MTV) and radio stations (including all hip-hop).

Growing up, my local news came from the paper and most of my global news came from the TV. Fox news was on most of the time at my family's house but I once overheard one of my elementary teachers say that Fox was too conservative so I rebelled and changed the channel to CNN even though I had no inkling of what conservative meant. My introduction to the internet didn't occur until seventh grade when my neighbor Jessica was allowed on her dad's computer. We would sign on when he wasn't home and chat with whomever we could find. My idea of social networking completely changed with the invention of AOL instant messaging. Suddenly I was able to talk to my friends or people across the ocean right from my computer without having to pick up a phone or hop on my bike to go see them face-to-face.

Now as a 21 year old, media are everywhere I am. The TV (when it's on) is playing commercial after commercial, I can't drive 10 feet without seeing a sign or billboard, the internet has banner ads on every page, and I can't listen to music on the radio anymore because of all the ads. I am constantly bombarded by advertising and am forced to ask myself each day, sometimes unconsciously, whether or not that product or service will benefit me. I feel like my brain is on constant overload with all the media it takes in. In the same respect, I couldn't function day-to-day without my computer, my TV for the news, magazines, etc.