Shiny Laptop=Happy Me!

This is so dorky but I totally just wiped down the screen, keyboard and chassis of my laptop and man what a difference it made!  I love this laptop to no end, but it’s hard to show off when it was covered in dust and just looked dirty!  Now it looks sharp and brand-new again!

I <3 mini-victories!

Finding my Blogging Niche…

I need to blog more regularly.  I have so much stuff that I want to cover – products, experiences and life in general, but I can barely find time to sleep and do laundry, let alone blog! 

It is one of my goals though, I have always wanted to have a good an active blog, so I will try to get back into it.  I think my blog needs a focus, although I do not want to limit myself to talking only about one topic.  I feel like this has turned more into my personal journal and a series of rants than an actual informative blog, and that is exactly what I do not want.

Maybe I can revamp this blog with a new/more narrowed focus.  I have several areas of interest…I’m thinking right now that I’ll either revamp this blog or start a new one with a better focus – perhaps something along the lines of “The Informed Consumer” – where I can post product reviews and tips.  Either that or I will pick 2-3 things to focus on.  I do like beauty, but I am by no means an expert, nor do I wish to be.

I would also like to get involved with YouTube and/or update a combined blog with my BF but neither of us has taken the initiative to keep up with it. 

It probably doesn’t help that I consistently get the urge to blog while I’m at work….

I am just trying to carve my niche on the internet; hopefully I’ll be able to soon.

Weekend Haul!

So last night I was patting myself on the back for not buying a bunch of makeup over the last few weeks...then I hauled.

Lol!  But I picked up a few "treats" for myself, including one that I am considering an early Christmas gift to me!

With the exception of a few drugstore NYC items, I really haven't bought much makeup over the last few weeks.  I had the new Urban Decay Book of Shadows 3 (NYC) in the back of my mind and went ahead and ordered it from Sephora only because I found the 20% coupon code (FF2010). 

Then today we took a last minute trip to the outlets which means CCO!!  I was so excited to duck in there and see what goodies they had.  I always get excellent goodies when I go there with Poopadoo because he's great at picking out colors and shades for me and encouraging me to try colors outside of my comfort zone!

Aside from picking up 3 wonderful mineralized eyeshadows, I also got my first Amplified Creme lipstick in Morange and....wait for it...wait for it...the Azalea Blossom blush ombre!!!  This is a LE item from the 2010 Spring Color Forecast and by the time I found out about it it was sold out everywhere!  Well imagine my surprise when Poopadoo points it out to me at the CCO!  That totally made my day.

And I was extremely hesitant about getting Morange but I have to say that I absolutely love it!  It's my new favorite lipstick!  It is flattering on me and goes well with my skin tone and the natural pigmentation of my lips.

My makeup collection has grown quite a bit - here are recent shots of my entire collection, as well as my recent purchases from the CCO.

Wow I have a lotta stuff now.

Too many choices!

Last night, my bf and I went to WalMart to pick up a few last minute toiletry items and snacks for our vacation.  As I mentioned before, we are going on a 4 day Western Caribbean cruise to Cozumel, Mexico.  Well, as I stood in the dental hygeine aisle, stressing out about picking a new toothbrush, I was overwhelmed by how many choices there were!  This is not the first time I have noticed the dilemma - picking out bras, feminine products, electronics....there are so many choices!  And don't get me wrong - I absolutely love it!  Having so many choices and the widespread availabity of substitutes is what keeps competition up, prices down, and allows for nearly everyone to customize and find products that work for them.  But the reality is that sometimes we can get bombarded by how many options there are for the simplest products!

In the end, I picked out an Equate brand soft bristle toothbrush for $1.  I usually use the freebie that my dentist provides, but now that I am no longer a student and on a new insurance plan, I have found myself without dental insurance for the first time...meaning that visits to my dentists will be delayed for a bit.  I'm not stressing though, the main thing is that I have health and vision.  I have two health priorities - feminine health (is there a better term for it?) and vision, and I can happily manage both of these areas with the coverage that I have.

Side note: Last night at the pharmacy, I was pleasantly surprised to discover the difference in prescription coverage from my old insurance to my new.  Prescriptions are like 1/3 of what they were!

<3 it!

Something is always missing...

So, in my apperance, it seems that I am always missing something.
If I fix my hair and makeup nice, my nails are unpolished.

If I have a cute outfit, my shoes are not up to par.

Well today something like that happened.

I set out with a cute outfit:

Bright green linen skirt from Old Navy
Black "puff" sleeve scoopneck t-shirt from Target
(layered over) a white racerback tank from Target
Black reef sandals

White Rosestud earrings from Michele1218
Tiffany's heart bracelet/necklace combo
Claddaugh band, 3 ring puzzle ring, birthstone ring

My nails and toenails are painted green to match the skirt (China Glaze)

Makeup - Over my primer, I used NYX jumbo pencil in lemon as the shadow base and I put light green all over the lid, Gunmetal in the crease and lower lash line, black liner on top lash line and waterline.  I dusted NYC bronzer in the shade "Sunny" on my face and used Nars Portofino as my blush...

As I'm driving in the car, I glance in the mirror and realize what I have forgotten.

Mascara.

Ugh!  I didn't have any in my purse, so I'll have to do without today.  Funny that I finally polish my nails and then forget mascara, which I wear everyday.

Hmm maybe I was distracted by watching last night's episode of Secret Life while I was getting ready?

Target Love

I LOVE TARGET!

That is all.

Haul #2 – Mac, Urban Decay, Nars, NYX

I have acquired several goodies for my makeup collection over the last few weeks. 

From the upper right corner and going clockwise -

Silverthorn, Apres-Ski, Pollinator, Maira’s Mood, Bitter, Swimming, Aquavert, Blue Flame. 

Persuasive Mineralize ES in center.

 

I picked up each of these MAC eyeshadows at the Cosmetics Company Store.  I found Silverthorn, Swimming, and Blue Flame at the CCO in Clinton, CT and I got the rest at the CCO in Central Valley, NY.  I haven’t had the chance to use all of the shadows yet but Silverthorn has quickly become a favorite.  This past weekend I did a fun look using Aquavert on the lid, Bitter on the inner third, and Blue Flame in the crease.  I added UD 24/7 liner in Zero on my upper lash line and UD 24/7 in Flipside on my waterline.  Sounds like a strange combo, but this was actually one of my favorite summer looks so far.  I didn’t take any pics, so I’ll have to do it again soon and document the results.

I also got an empty Mac pro palette.  I will probably wait until I have enough shadows to fill the palette before I depot them.

Next goodie is the Naked Palette from Urban Decay.  For a while I thought about buying UD’s Gunmetal eyeshadow in a single but couldn’t bring myself to spend $17+shipping on one shadow.  After hearing so much about the Naked Palette and finding out that it included Gunmetal, I thought this would be a much better value.  I actually bought this as a treat for myself after I accepted the job offer.  Thought it would be a nice way to experiment with neutral work-appropriate looks.

Drumroll please…

 

My first Nars product!  I stopped by the Nars counter in Lord & Taylor a couple weeks ago…ok the truth is I was drawn to it about three times to check out their products.  I heard so much about the Copacabana and Orgasm Multiples so I couldn’t skip the chance to check them out in person. 

Copacabana is such a pretty shimmery color, but it is too light for my skintone, even as a highlight.  I really liked the color of orgasm – a shimmery pink – but noticed that it didn’t really “pop” against my skin.  My boyfriend encouraged me to speak to the makeup artist at the counter.  When I asked her whether she thought Orgasm would be a good blush shade for me, she suggested that Portofino might work better.  She pointed out that Orgasm looked pretty enough and could work, but that the color was just..there.  I wouldn’t be able to layer it and make it darker or more intense.  With Portofino, I could make it as intense as I want.

I love this product.  So far I have used it only as a blush, but I really like it and I am looking forward to using it on the cruise!

I got these NYX eyeshadow trios from Ulta.  I love these colors and I am very excited to try out other NYX products.  I also got a couple of jumbo eyeshadow pencils – Lavender, Baby Blue, and Pacific.  I am looking forward to using these jumbo pencils as an eyeshadow base, but I am also hesitant because I tried the Lemon jumbo pencil once and it creased on me :(  I am thinking that next time I will blend it better and make sure that I use it over a good eyeshadow base, like Too Faced Shadow Insurance.

I think that’s it for the major updates.  The majority of my makeup collection is eyeshadow and eye products.  Aside from my NYC blushable creme sticks and my Nars Multiple, I actually don’t have any face products.  I am hesitant about using liquid foundation…I used to use liquid foundation when I was in high school, but I have combination-oily skin and I am hesitant to try it again.  I am thinking of checking out Bare Minerals, but have not yet had a chance to stop in to their store.

Update

So as I mentioned in my last post, I’ve had a lot going on lately.

I officially began working my first full-time job.  I am working at a small market research firm that specializes in higher ed publishing.  The company I work at is also a consulting firm that does project management and hires freelancers to work on various projects for major publishing companies.  I have been working there since mid-April and I feel like I am now getting a good feel for the kinds of projects that the company takes on, the clients they work with, the project management process, etc.  I work with both the project side and the marketing side.  I am also working as “command central” of the office an serving as the main point of contact for freelancers and clients alike.  I am also responsible for developing contracts and completing various tasks, including troubleshooting technology problems that may arise.

Work is good, although I’m finding that I am having some trouble concentrating lately.  It must be because I am getting excited for my vacation next week!!

My boyfriend and I are going on a 4 day Western Caribbean cruise next weekend with a bunch of our friends.  We leave Thursday from Tampa.  I’m so excited!  Vacay starts Wednesday night after work, hopefully with Vampires Suck!

So I guess I should start thinking about packing!  I think I am all up to date on clothes…I got new dresses for dinner, new shorts, croc flops etc.  Which brings me to my next update…

Makeup!!  So quick back story to explain how I got into makeup.  I was actually did a google/YouTube search for DevaCurl reviews back when I first started using their products and came across this review from Michele1218 on YouTube.  From there I checked out her YouTube channel and discovered that there is this whole world of makeup and makeup gurus on YouTube.

The last couple years have been pretty rough for me and I found that getting into makeup and researching products and watching tutorials was not only a welcome distraction and newfound hobby, but it has also been a lot of fun to try out new looks and look my best, which has in turn, boosted my confidence.  I have been adding to my makeup collection lately, and I will include info about my recent additions in a seperate post.

Employed!

It's been a couple weeks since I last posted.  Since my birthday last month, I originally planned to document "Project 24" on this blog but sort of...fell behind.  I do have updates though, and I hope to start making major changes in September.  Summer is ending, and I am going on vacation this month, so I figure this will be my last "fun" month.

Well on to the news....

I am officially employed.  Woot!  I started temping back in April at a small market research/publishing firm, and throughout the first few weeks of working there, my boss hinted that she wanted to bring me on full-time, but was hesitant because of the way the economy had affected business.  On Wednesday, July 28th, she made me an offer.  I accepted the next day.  My official start date was August 1, 2010.

I had a good experience temping here and the internal transition from temp to full-time employee has been really easy, considering that I was treated as part of the team from day 1 and had already established myself as the "problem solver" and main contact person for the company.  The mental transition from unemployed temp to full-time employee, member of society was a huge one that I am still adjusting to.  Unemployment really takes a toll on you.  I spent the last 15 months awkwardly trying to avoid social events and discussions about work.  Re-assessing careers goals, freaking out about not having any money, waffling between feeling angry and feeling depressed and taking it out on those around me, etc.

I still feel like my peers and I were royally screwed.  I am still pissed about how that economy thing went down.  I deeply resent people who think its cute to NOT use birth control, have a baby or two, and then sit around and suck up welfare money...and then gloat about it.  Retardation should not be rewarded...yes I am still an angry little bean, but at least I feel like I have finally been given a chance.  I don't like getting up early and getting dressed up, but will admit this: I do like to work.  I like to get stuff done.  I like having a schedule and a routine, and I really like making money.  So yea, I plan on making this work for a bit.  Even if I have trouble focusing sometimes.  Even if I still struggle with procrastination just like I did through 17 years of schooling.  I keep reminding myself that this is a means to an end.  And if I happen to build a career in this area, then wonderful.  If not, then I can use this experience as a stepping stone to get to where I want to go.  And I can finally save up some money, so that I can do what I want.

Recap: Discoveries This Week

This week I have learned and/or confirmed several things about myself:

I absolutely cannot work without a "to-do" list.  I tried and tried but I can't!  I can't concentrate, I can't remember what I have to do and what order to complete things in, I just can't!  All day Monday & Tuesday right through about 4 p.m. on Wednesday I kept getting distracted, couldn't focus, and barely got anything done.  Late Wednesday afternoon I sat down and made a 2 page long to-do list of everything I could think of (big & small) that I need to complete and BAM!  I was instantaneously 1000% more productive.  I was more productive from 4:30-5:30 Wednesday than I was all day Monday & Tuesday!  Plus it probably didn't hurt that I snuck in a small cup of coffee - which leads me to my next point...

Coffee increases my productivity & ability to concentrate like 300%.  Crazy right?  Especially because sometimes a little caffeine makes me jittery, but I totally zip from one thing to the next and can squeeze so much more out of my time when I'm not yawning and drifting off.  It is definitely no substitute for sleep, as I absolutely cannot function without sleep, but it helps as a quick "pick me up."

I am in love with Viva Glam Cyndi!  Like wow...I really like this one!  I was very hesitant about a lip color that looks so...red, but once I tried it I immediately fell in love!  I've never been the biggest fan of red lips, but the thing about Viva Glam Cyndi is that it is not a matte or stark red.  It is lustre and on my lips it is actually very flattering.  As I learn more and more about makeup, tones, shades, etc., I have come to realize that my lips are very pigmented, and that alone is kinda cool.  So on me, Viva Glam Cyndi sort of intensifies my natural lip color, while adding just enough red to dress it up and really make my lips stand out.  Viva Glam Cyndi is elegant.  It is very wearable, I wore it to work yesterday with a brown neutral eye and absolutely loved it!  I would definitely recommend wearing it with a neutral eye.  I think you want to either focus on your eyes or your lips, not necessarily both at the same time.  Lips should compliment the eyes and vice versa.  Plus you don't want to clash or look overdone!

As the complete opposite, Viva Glam Gaga kind of makes my lips look nude!  At first I wasn't sure if I liked it, and thought that perhaps it was best left for evening looks, but I gave it a couple tries and found that it really gives my lips a unique look.

I do like that both Viva Glam Gaga and Viva Glam Cyndi go on sheer so that you can play around with them and control how intense the color appears.

Finally, my last and final revelation is that sometimes you do have to be patient for good things to come.  I often get frustrated, feeling like all I ever do is wait wait wait and look forward to the next thing that is to come, but sometimes when we persevere, work hard, and try to do the right thing, good things can and do (eventually) come.  More on that (fingers crossed) soon!

Education, Part 1

This post is part 1 in a series on higher education

OVERVIEW


It is widely agreed that our education system is flawed.  I used to think that it was just public schools (high schools in particular), but having recently graduated from college in the most depressed year of the economic recession ('09 ftw?), I see now that our education system as a whole is broken, from Kindergarten right up to undergrad. 

Our education system does not teach real skills.  I am an intellectual and acadmic at heart, but the truth of the matter is that outside of academia and the occasional philosophical discussion, this type of knowledge does not help the majority of people get jobs.  Our population is 300 million and growing...there are a lot of people, increased competition for jobs, and a shortage of people with real, hard skills.  At one end of the spectrum of course we are looking at mathematicians, computer scientists, biologists, chemists, physicists, engineers and the like, but equally as important, I am talking about mechanics, plumbers, electricians, and other types of trade skills. 

In our economy, we are seeing for the first time that the 4 year college thing isn't working as well as it has in the past, and despite the insistent demands of parents, the answer is not necessarily more education.  My family, for example, thorougly believes that more education (literally "get that masters, regardless of the field or degree") is the only solution, and simply possessing a master's degree in anything will automatically grant you higher wages, a better job and increased quality of life.  THIS IS NOT TRUE.  This is a widespread misunderstanding that is particularly popular among those who do not fully understand how higher education works.  These same people used to think the same thing about a bachelor's degree....until they realized that college grads are now coming out of school worse off than ever before.  The job market has changed dramatically over the past couple of decades, and the old way of thinking is no longer effective.  My personal observation is that this way of thinking is particularly popular among minorities, immigrant groups, and parents who are less education themselves (read: they did not finish high school or college, and therefore are completely unfamiliar with higher education), but my thoughts on that are probably for another post!

Aside from the careers in which you need to attain an advanced degree in order (medicine, law, etc.), a graduate degree can be helpful, but it is not necessarily a requirement.  Employers are now looking for people who can perform.  Sure, they look at educational background to sort through applicants, but now we are seeing that applicant with relevant work experience are getting interviews and job offers.  Education alone is not enough.  So what does this mean?  Has the higher education bubble finally popped?  One thing we know for sure: this recession has exposed the weaknesses in higher education, and for the first time, we are forced to take an honest look at the problem and consider ways that we might remedy it.

MAC Coral Crepe Paint Pot @ Nordstrom & UD AIW on ACW!!

Omg I was looking for the Coral Crepe Paint Pot everywhere and finally found it at Nordstrom.  Nordstrom only offers free shipping on purchases over $200, so I actually paid $25.97 for it with tax + shipping.  It’s a limited edition item from the Prêt-à-Papier Collection and it’s sold out on MAC.com and everywhere else I have looked.  I ordered this on Monday and it arrived on Friday.  I am so excited to use it – this color is going to be great for summer and I’m looking forward to wearing it on the cruise!!

Also, major update: the Urban Decay Alice in Wonderland Book of Shadows is now available on ACW for $109 plus shipping.  I’ve been checking ACW everyday for the past couple of weeks to check out the new updates and I was very excited to see this on there.  I just got my AIW set from EBay a couple weeks ago, but I’m wondering if I should get a backup…I’m thinking this item will be sold out pretty soon, so if you haven’t gotten your hands on it yet, here’s another chance to grab it.  All Cosmetics Wholesale (ACW) is an excellent site for finding discounted authentic beauty items.  I bought my first Sigma brushes from there, and I am very impressed by the variety of items, organization of the website, and how quickly the items arrived at my house!  I totally recommend ACW, check it out if you get a chance.

I think I need to hop on Twitter so that I can start following some of my favorite vendors and makeup gurus…

Yasmin - Trouble for Bayer

I always felt there was something suspicious about Yasmin.  I have been very turned off by their aggressive advertising campaign and claims to treat acne and PMDD.  It sucks that many woman are being harmed by their birth control pills, but at the same time I have to ask why there wasn't further research.  I am assuming that this product goes through the same rigorous testing as any other prescription medication that is approved by the FDA, but I was always wary of it being the new hot thing...like it was trying to make contraceptives sexy.  I don't know why the marketing campaigns even need to make birth control look sexy.  Being responsible and not having a kid that you are unprepared for emotionally & financially is sexy enough!

Despite what Bayer wants you to think, Yasmin is NOT the only birth control pill out there.  Women should be able to trust that their doctors have their best interest in mind and that these birth control pills are safe, but the reality of the situation is that these pharmaceutical are intertwined into everything and they really push their products.  They strongly influence the government, they influence the healthcare system, they influence doctors.  Yes they make plenty of medicine that saves lives, and yes they give out free samples at the doctor's office, and I have the utmost respect for doctor's and what they do, but you as the individual has to realize that one product is not going to work for every one.  I encourage everyone to always take their role as the patient very seriously (it is YOUR body), and to spend time researching side effects, alternatives, options, and how these medications work.  Always evaluate the risks. If the benefit outweigh the risk then you do it.

I just want to remind everyone out there that there are other options.  I am of the "if it ain't broke don't fix it" mentality...if your birth control routine is working, then don't tinker with it!  Unfortuantely I think the saddest part of this story is the women who were using Yaz/Yasmin and it seemed to be working just fine for them and then they were suddenly hit by illness. 

If you are not using a reliable form of birth control and you DON'T want a baby, then I highly recommend that you do some research into determining what will work best for you.  I read into into how Yasmin prevents pregnancy and I as a consumer was turned off.  I prefer the tri-phasic routine, as it more closely mimick's your body's natural cycle.

Privilege - "White"

I'm not entirely buying into this privilege thing.  I think our culture relies on certain assumptions and expectations, and in some situations one group may do better than another, but I don't think it can be automatically attributed to white or male privilege.  I think there is more to it under the surface, especially now.

Consider this this link.  It's an excerpt from a 1988 working paper by Peggy McIntosh.  It is a list of things that the author experiences or can expect to experience by default, as a function of being white.  Now, I have no idea who this person is or what sort of academic background she has, but I thought this list was kind of ironic, and even a bit extreme.  Of course, I immediately felt like commenting on several points that stood out to me.

1. I can if I wish arrange to be in the company of people of my race most of the time
I choose my company based on how people behave and act, not on the color of their skin

6. I can turn on the television or open to the front page of the paper and see people of my race widely represented
There are a lot of people of "my race" out there, but they are too busy catering to one group or another to actually step up and own it

8. I can be sure that my children will be given curricular materials that testify to the existence of their
race
Unfortunately, people of "my race" have been inaccurately romanticized as confused victims throughout history, literature, and culture.  The racial tensions that caused this in the first place have been passed down from generation to generation and still persist today for no good reason.

21. I am never asked to speak for all the people of my racial group
Too many people in my "racial group" are afraid to speak up and instead of accepting all of who they are, they are too busy trying to fit in with one group or another

23. I can criticize our government and talk about how much I fear its policies and behavior without
being seen as a cultural outsider
I wouldn't chalk this up to race; for me and those close to me (people of varying racial backgrounds), it is more a function of cohort.  My political opions often do not fit in with what is popular, or expected of someone my age, gender, etc.

35. I can take a job with an affirmative action employer without having my co-workers on the job suspect that I got it because of my race
Whether or not this happens reflects poorly on THEM, and time and time again, I can prove with my qualifications and background that this is NOT the case.  I am NOT a victim

44. I can easily find academic courses and institutions which give attention only to people of my race
45. I can expect figurative language and imagery in all of the arts to testify to experiences of my race
Again, people of mixed race are romanticized as confused, helpless victims. Occasionally I'm sure that I could find a literature or history course that touches upon that theme, but this is not a function of racism, it's a combination of expressing what actually happened, and not enough awareness of how different things are today. Too many mixed people are catering to one part of their heritage and adopting specific forms of speech, dress and general expression that screams "I'm ____(insert race here)!"

There were many other points on this list that I found were less a function of race and more a function of class and individual behavior...in other words, being a decent, upstanding member of society.  Is it possible that others have had a different experience.  Absolutely.  I am not speaking for all mixed people, women, people of color, or any other group.  I am only speaking for myself, and I personally have not been plagued with issues of race, nor have I (to my knowledge) been discriminated against due to the color of my skin.  Is it because I am something different (not African-American, not white, not Hispanic/Latino)?  Is it because "mixed" is the new hot thing?  Or is it because I don't allow others to define my race for me?  Is it simply a function of being a decent, upstanding, presentable member of society?  I believe it's a combination of the last two.
 
I find that I am not in disagreement with the majority of posts, however.  These are things that I either experience, perceive to experience, or expect to experience.  So I pose this question - Does this mean that I am I afflicted with this type of privilege?  Perhaps but I am racially ambiguous - so I do not think it is conferred as a result of my physical appearance.  Whether or not I am, and whether or not I am perceived to be, I am not going to apologize.  But I think this example clearly demonstrates that by automatically attributing those points solely to "white" privilege we are using an outdated framework through which to analyze privilge, and that this focus is much too narrow.

Feminists? Really? Decreasing the quality of life for women from the so-called liberators

This is scary.  Go ahead, check out the link.  Now, the part about half of pregnancies being unintended is not scary - that's not even surprising, and I know there is a lot of research out there that supports this fact.  Scroll down to the comments and read a few.  THAT is what is scary, and I'm seeing this attitude everywhere.  So many of my peers are pregnant or have already had babies.  That FREAKS me out.  And you know that 80% of them did not plan to get pregnant.  A couple of them did it on purpose for their own selfish and retarded reasons, but the rest of it I think just comes down to bad planning and failing to think ahead.

The above link takes you to a post on Feministing.  Feministing touts itself as being a place where all feminists - cisgendered, transgendered, female or not - can get together and discuss issues that affect the female gender.  In reality, it is just a biased "community" that is scared of outside criticism.  Some of the rationales that authors use to back up their assertions in posts, comments, and in their own private blogs is so FLAWED and ridiculous that it is impossible to take this group seriously. 

I used to check Feministing every day, because I thought it was great that they "broke" news stories (read: reposted and commented) that you don't hear about in the mainstream media.  Then I was deeply outraged by one of their posts and pretty much lost interest in following this community.  The article itself "Allies Asking Questions" was backwards enough, but the long stream of commentary that followed it really set me off.  The commenters tore apart the 1 or 2 people that dared to disagree or point out flaws, and banded with one another to re-inforce the flawed and repressive logic that sets back social process by several decades.  Reading this post really gets me inflmaed...so much so that I will not re-read and comment on it now - that requires its own post!

I find that feminist communities are not open, safe spaces to engage in constructive and meaningful dialogue or critique anything.  Rather, the feminists are, for lack of a better term, control freaks, that absolutely shut down anyone that disagrees with every one of their radical ideas.  I really hate to generalize, but in my experience, this is true.  I am a young, educated woman.  I believe in gender equality, equal pay, sex education, preserving the "right to choose" and taking responsibility for yourself as a woman...but I do not want to be associated with the word 'feminist' because it automatically earns disrespect.  It once stood for something good but today's feminists have ruined it.

I feel uncomfortable in feminist spaces, whether it is in an activist group on a college campus, a feminist news blog, or an online community where one-sided debate flourishes and all who challenge even the tiniest notion is immediately attacked for the pettiest things including typos.  Often, constructive criticism is banned outright, as these commenters receive warnings by moderators or have their comments deleted entirely.

I'm going off now to read this post.  I expect it to be less infuriating than "Allies Asking Questions," but equally as farfetched.

The Limited - eek big shipping charges

I'm having a hard time focusing on work today.  For one, I'm super tired.  And I have to admit, my morning coffee routine just isn't doing it this week.  Aside from that, I spent some time browsing on The Limited's site today.  A few weeks ago they had short sleeved button ups on sale that I wanted to get for work.  Well I hesitated and now they're no longer on the site....so I shopped around a bit and found a pair of dress pants on final clearance for $14.99!  That's an excellent price, but I'm extremely nervous because I never buy clothes without trying them on first.  Of course I ordered them, along with a couple other items for work, but now I'm feeling less than satisfied with my order and it hasn't even shipped yet.  First off, I got a couple of great items for really good clearance prices...but they are sweaters...more winter items, hence the reason why they were so inexpensive!  I also picked up a print tee for $6.99 which is great, but again, I don't know for sure that it will fit.

I know taht the Timeless Vee sweaters and the t-shirt can be returned to the store if I don't like them, but that's not what I'm worried about!  I already have 3 of the Timeless Vee's in mint, orange and coral....today I ordered 2 more in white and light blue...well I know those will fit, and chances are the t-shirt will be okay.  Worst case scenario with the t-shirt is that it becomes an undershirt, which is is fine with me.  My main concern is the pants and the other sweater.  These 2 items were on final clearance, which means that they cannot be returned period.  The company is trying to get rid of these products.  As I mentioned, the price was right, but I'm worried they won't fit properly!  I have a pair of pants from The Limited in the same size and a similar fit, so hopefully they will be okay.  I guess worst worst case scenario I can try to sell the pants on E-Bay or Amazon and if all else fails, well, then I'm out 15 bucks.

Buttt on to the real reason I'm not so comfortable about today's order.  Apparently shipping costs for items from The Limited are butt-rape expensive.  I'm really not happy that I paid shipping and tax and that came to an additional $15 or so...but I guess I should have noodled on this purchase a bit more before I placed the order.  My new thing is that I think about making a purchase and research it for 2-3 weeks before I actually go ahead and spend any money...well on this one I had thought about those button downs for about 3 weeks but then they were sold out!  Instead I jumped into buying several other items that I will probably love (I know for sure the Timeless Vees are comfortable and fit nicely), but it's getting hot now and I might not really be able to wear them until fall.

Sigh.  Well that's a lesson.  I should be thrilled though, because I ordered 3 sweaters, a t-shirt, and a pair of pants and paid tax + shipping and my total still came out to be less than what it would have been for 1 pair of regular priced pants at the Limited.

Well I guess I feel a little better, but the money I spent today really should have gone towards my cruise spending fund!

Recent Purchases/Makeup Pics!

So as promised, here are couple pics of my recent purchases.  I know that some are a bit blurry – I promise I’m good at taking regular pics just not used to taking close-ups!

My purchase from MAC arrived earlier this evening.  I got the Viva Glam Gaga and Bare Study Paint Pot – my first MAC lipstick and paint pot!

   

Picked up these two NYC Blushable Creme sticks a few weeks ago.  After searching everywhere for them (even had Poopadoo looking for them), we finally found them at Ulta in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania!

 

This is my favorite makeup purchase so far.  I found this on E-Bay and I feel that it was worth every penny, including the markup I paid, especially considering that I got free shipping.  And I’m pretty sure that the person I bought it from shipped it from Ireland.  Considering that many people were selling it for higher prices plus crazy shipping fees (including over $20 to have it shipped from the UK), I feel that I got a good deal.  I was very nervous about using E-Bay and getting ripped off, but this product arrived brand-new in perfect condition.  I have used it everyday since!!

  

These makeup wipes are from Target and I am loving them!  Taking off my eye makeup is now effortless.  They are even better than the Sephora makeup remover and certainly better than the baby wipes I was using before!  Just be careful not to get them in your eyes or they will burn, although not as bad as getting the Sephora stuff in your eyes.

Didn’t buy these all at once but here are some of the new items in my collection as well as some of the old staples.

Sephora Nano Liner in Midnight Black and Chocolate

Revlon lipstick - #407 Rosedew (Pearl)

NYX Jumbo Eyeshadow Pencil – 613 Lemon

Maybelline Great Lash Mascara in Clear and Very Black

NYX Eyeshadow Trio – Shangri-La

NYX Eyeshadow single – My Favorite Color

Too Faced Shadow Insurance

Brush Cleaner from Sephora

MAC Greasepaint Stick in Slick Black, Dirty and Below Ground

EOS lip balms are great!  Here I have honeysuckle honeydew, lemon, and summer fruit.  They also come in sweet mint, which I will be ordering from EOS’ online store, since I can’t find them at Walgreens, and vanilla.  Unfortunately the vanilla comes in a stick form, so not quite as much fun as the ergonomic balls but I will be ordering that to try it as well.

Glamour Doll Eyes shadow samples!  And I really love that shipping is free when you order sample sized shadows.  Below I have Brown Eyed Girl, Chocoholic, He Loves Me Not, Bare Naked, Boyfriend Sweater, Dirty Jeans, and Show Off.  I also received two free samples with my order – I got Shamrock and Skinny Jeans, both in little baggies.

More to come…

SMH Eyeshadows & Paying for College

**Update: What a weird combo - eyeshadow and financial aid!  But as I wrote this post I sort of flowed right from makeup to college advice.  First half is makeup; if you want to read about college stuff skip to the second half.**  Okay back to the post :)

So I was browsing on All Cosmetics Wholesale and I came across SMH eyeshadows.  I was immediately intrigued and so I did a quick google search and found that Michele1218 has already done a review of their products.  Michele1218 is my favorite makeup guru and I really enjoy watching her videos and checking out her blog for swatches and pictures, and if you are interested in makeup or new (like me), then I would definitely recommend checking out her channel.

As I have mentioned, I am fairly new to this whole makeup thing, and I have learned that MAC eyeshadows are highly pigmented, excellent quality products but they are very expensive.  Eyeshadows retail for $14.50 each.  If you order shadows in a pan the price drops to $11 each.  Even on ACW prices range from $12.99 to $16.99 with some of the discontinued shades on the pricer end.  I even saw an Alexander McQueen discontinued special edition shadow for $24.99...For one color!  Needless to say, although I am interested in eventually trying some of the MAC shadows that I keep hearing so much about, I do not yet feel compelled to spend a whole week's pay on building a custom palette or picking out individual shades. 

So I was very excited to learn that ACW sells SMH shadows in pan form, and also carries the magnetized palette set that is completely interchangeable with the MAC shadows.  The pans are exactly the same size.  For me, this is a more affordable and realistic option for building my shadow collection.  At this point I am more likely to consider picking out several SMH shadows at $6 each and drop them into the palette (empty 12 slot palette is $8.95 on ACW; 28 slot is $14.95) and slowly build my collection that way.  Additionally, since the MAC shadow pans are the same size, I might even consider buying a couple of them and keeping them in the same palette...maybe half SMH, half MAC?  Even with the 12 slot palette I think that would give me a good variety and a good starting place.  Definitely something to consider.

I also like ACW I think it's a great site for buying authentic products at a more affordable price.  Just last week I purchased my first Sigma brushes for less than what I would have paid buying them directly from Sigma.  And Sigma itself sells brushes decent prices....I feel great that I am bargain shopping!!  When it comes to shopping, I think one of the best feelings is getting a product that you planned on buying at a discounted price - especially if it is a high quality item!  I love this stuff and I feel great the I can use my econ degree and apply it to real world situations...like my own purchasing decisions.  Lol.  $160,000 education comes in handy for something!

Side note: while the "retail" cost of my college education (read: sticker price) at IWU was approximately $160K I didn't pay nearly that.  In fact, my out of pocket expenses (out of my own wallet & future earnings) were closer to....zero.  My family contributed some money towards my education - my dad's side of the family threw in some, as did my mom...especially towards "incidentals" like textbooks, travel/shipping costs, car expenses, spending money, etc.

The bulk of my funding however (about 80%) came from a combination of grants and scholarships.  My school provided 50%, and the other 30% came from private scholarship funds.  This made it so that I didn't have to take out any student loans.  None at all.  I didn't really enjoy my college experience the way I thought I would, but with the after-college job search & financial experience kind of sucking in this economy it is a relief to know that I don't owe any money and I can have a fresh financial start.  Even if it takes me a couple years to land a "real" job.

I will be posting a future blog with more details about financial aid and scholarships and paying for college, because there is so much misinformation and so many "unknowns" to shed light on, especially for first-generation college students.  Especially if those first-generation students have parents who immigrated to the U.S.  Having gone through that process myself there is a lot that I would like to share with those who are getting ready to start that process and embark upon the college journey.

I have sort of made it my self appointed "mission" to help others with the college research, application, and financial aid process, since I didn't have any one to guide me.  I really feel that those three steps really influence how well you enjoy, regret, or hate your own college experience.  I am not a professional or expert in this area, but I have already gone through and completed college, and I did receive an excellent education....I thrived academically but personally felt that I would have been better off at a different university.  I am totally willing to share advice, however, if anyone is ever interested.  Just leave me a comment below and we can start a dialoge :)

First Haul Part 1

Quick update on my recent purchases (dare I say a haul?):

So I have been treating myself recently by upgrading my wardrobe and officially starting a small, high quality makeup collection.  In order to keep myself from going hog-wild and wasting money, I have decided that I will invest time heavily researching the products that I am interested in, and vow to actually use them once I have purchased them.  So far this is working out well, and this also keeps me from feeling like I have to have certain producs and then overspending.

As I mentioned in a previous post, I was super excited to find Urban Decay's Alice in Wonderland palette on Ebay.  I know at this point, that product is completely sold out and the only place you can buy it is on Ebay...if only I had been into makeup back in January when it came out!  But alas, I was beyond broke then and still coming out of a difficult time...the last thing on my mind was buying eyeshadow.

Well I kept reading about this palette and seeing reviews on blogs and on YouTube and once I actually watched the new Alice in Wonderland, that's when I decided that I really wanted to purchase this product.  Of course I looooove the packaging (who doesn't?), but as a makeup noob, this really gave me the chance to check out a variety of UD shadows, sample the primer potion, and even check out their 24/7 liners.  Of course, the eyeshadows are the best part about this palette - the colors are vibrant and georgeous!  And even though I bought it from Ebay at a slight markup I am really pleased, because the colors in this palette are unlike any of the eyeshadows in my Sephora palette.  I am already in love with Wonderland, Mushroom, Absolem and White Rabbit! 

Next up, I ordered several sample shadows from Glamour Doll Eyes.  These just arrived yesterday and I have not had the chance to use them yet, but I am very excited to use these products.  So far I really like this company - the prices are very reasonable, GDE offers free shipping on samples, and if you end up purchasing a full size jar, GDE will credit the amount that you paid for the sample towards the full jar.  Plus you get two free random samples with every order!  And they sell lipgloss.  I don't think it gets much better than that.  Right now, Vee has taken the shadows down from the site so that she can catch up on filling orders, but once they are back up I am thinking of checking out the Twi-shadows!  I'm not a huge Twilight fan (check out my New Moon Review) but I might order a couple samples.

Last night I went onto Mac's website and saw that not only do they have the Bare Study paint pot back in stock, but they were offering free shipping on all purchases made yesterday too!  I couldn't let that pass me by, especially since this is something I had planned to purchase.  Let me tell you - I am a huge fan of free shipping.  I think that's the best way for a company to encourage new customers to place orders.  I ordered the Bare Study (my first paint pot) and the Viva Glam Gaga lipstick too.

Poopadoo and I went up to the outlets and stopped by Ulta last weekend and I got a few other things that I'll mention, but I'm going to save that for another post.  This one is getting kinda long, and pretty empty too without pictures!

Next up: Recent purchases part 2 and pics too - I promise!

Mini-Rant

I have been mulling over many things and I have concluded that most people just have no class.

Unless you are an M.D., a nurse with a BSN or higher, or some sort of research specialist or Ph.D. in one of the biological/life sciences, I don't want to hear what you have to say about medicine.  Telling me about my health when I clearly know my own body is just a waste of time for you and me.  I am not an expert by any stretch of the imagination but I know what I experience and I know my body better than anyone could.

Getting pregnant and giving birth is not an accomplishment.  Prancing around with every part of your body on display, pregnant or not, is not cute.  Raising a child to be a good person and an upstanding member of society is an accomplishment.

Likewise, taking off your pants and sleeping with everyone you meet is gross.  Taking off your pants to sleep with a stranger that you don't know (a.k.a. a 'ONS') is disgusting.  Failing to use birth control when you have sex and/or a barrier method (read: condom) especially if he/she is a stranger is repulsive.  Have you not heard of STDs?  Have you not heard of AIDS?  Do you not value your life and health?

There is a major difference between a hard working individual that is suddenly affected by a tragic circumstance and relies on temporary help to get by and someone who prances around, fails to use birth control pops out a kid or two and then demands that others support that child financially. 

When I think tragic circumstance I am talking about your spouse dying, being hit with a disabling illness that prevents you from working, being bombarded with tons of medical bills for a parent's cancer treatments, or something serious along those lines.  Not someone that gets drunk, sleeps with a stranger without protecting themselves and then turns up pregnant and expects welfare money and/or their parents to support them.

Having children should not be forced upon those who do not want children.  Worry more about the retards that are having kids they cannot take care of.

Birth control is not hard to use.  Trust me.  Plus it's free.  Especially if you are broke.  They are giving that shit away at the clinic.  Sometimes the state government hands it out like candy.  THERE IS NO EXCUSE.

More to come.

Makeup Makeup Makeup!!!

I don't think I have mentioned this yet on my blog but over the last couple months I have really gotten into makeup!  I have always been a huge fan of black eyeliner and occasionally wore shadows, liner and mascara in college, but my old makeup supply was, well old and definitely in need of an upgrade.  So after I started work in April, I decided to take one of my first paychecks and treat myself to a few new items. 

I was never formally taught how to do my own makeup, and I really had no idea how it was even possible to create different looks until I found Michele's YouTube page. I actually found her by accident when I was searching for reviews on DevaCurl back when I first started using their products.  I watched her review and was instantly hooked by her friendly personality and knowledge of all things beauty!  I started browsing through her videos and was really impressed by her makeup knowledge and ability to create different looks using different products!

I find that Michele's tutorials are easy to follow and I love that she shows you exactly what products she uses and how to apply them.  Of course, being a makeup noob at this point I really only have the basics, but I have begun to research more about different products and more wallet-friendly dupes to use in the meantime.  I absolutely love the looks that she creates and I think they look fantastic on her, and after seeing the variety (and her gigantic makeup collection), I have begun expanding into different shadows, blushes, etc. 

Right now I am super excited, because after watching her new reviews on Glamour Doll Eyes I decided to give them a try and order a few sample shadows.  I watched her video review and I checked out her EOTD blog post blog and I would like to try those products myself!  Last night I browsed around a bit on the GDE website and ordered several samples including the All Work No Play Collection that she featured in her review and EOTD.  I love that GDE offers sample sizes and that there are no shipping charges on sample sizes!  I also love that it is a small company (essentially a one-woman show).  I really respect that and I like to support creative individuals and small business owners.  I hope these shadows arrive before the end of the month because I am dying to try them out!  I also ordered myself another treat from e-bay, but more on that in my next post!

Reporting from Pennsylvania

There is nothing like good conversation with a good friend and being with the one you love to reinvigorate and remind you of what is important in life.  I love being with my BF because even after 6 1/2 years, we learn more about each other everyday, and we continue to learn and grow together.  And it is great to re-unite with friends!

1 Year Post Relaxer; 6 Months Post Deva

As dorky as this is, I just thought about it and realized it’s been exactly one year since I last relaxed my hair.  I didn’t think that this year would go by so fast, or that my hair could change so much in just a few months.  Although I stopped relaxing last May, I continued to flat iron my hair for another 6 months until it was rough and dry and had virtually no moisture left in it.  Last November, however, I found The Workshop in New Haven, discovered DevaCurl and haven’t looked back.  It was very difficult at first, my hair did not change overnight.  Although it started to feel softer, it was still very short, very broken/damaged and many parts were still straight from two years of constant flat iron abuse!  The first three months were probably the hardest – that is when you have to be patient and know that although your hair might not look as great as you’d like it to, you are doing what is healthiest for it, and that it will look better in time!  It helps to have people around you that are encouraging who are excited about the transformation too.  Plus if you have any negative perceptions about the natural texture of your hair, you have to let go and accept that that’s the way your hair is.  Again, easier said that done, but it does and will make a difference.  I will post pictures soon of my transition so far.  I have recent pics on my computer, but the older earlier pics are located on my external hard drive, which is at home.

If anyone ever comes across this post and wants help or advice or info or anything like that, I would be happy to point you towards some excellent resources for curly/natural hair and share my experience and advice with you!  Just leave a comment on this page and I’d be happy to talk with you about anything hair-related.

Noblegarden

Happy Noblegarden!

Now that I am in the end-game phase of WoW I finally have time to do holiday achievements!  Before when holidays came around I didn’t have time to celebrate in-game holidays because I was too busy trying to get to level 80!  Well now that I have time I am going all out for WoW holidays in hopes of completing What A Long, Strange Trip It's Been and getting the violet proto-drake!  In fact, my boyfriend and I have teamed up on our mains so that we can do all of the achievements together and travel in style at the end of the year!

So I should have been documenting the Long, Strange Trip all along, but most recently we took a break from raiding and gathering frost emblems to have a bit of fun in Dal. 

 

Yea, I’m doing this.

 

So those are our characters dressed up in their Noblegarden finery!  My character is the death knight wearing the Tuxedo Shirt/Pants and his character is the priest wearing the Elegant Dress. 

My character is so manly.  I love it.

BTW that’s poopadoo’s favorite spot in the game because it’s the spot where they celebrate Arthas’ defeat.  Boo.

Effortless perfection

Heh.  This is a good one.  I hate the way women are always competing with one another and showing off but I have to admit that even at times, I fall prey to this idea, which apparently is called “effortless perfection.”

I have stared in awe at my classmates who seem to effortlessly get straight A’s, participate in several activities, work, maintain deep friendships/relationships AND look amazing all of the time.  I’m not too shabby myself – I always did well in school, and in high school I did all of those things, but still felt like there was someone who did ten times more things and did them better.  In college I did the academic thing, though I didn’t reach the only goal I set out to accomplish by graduation.  It was a GPA thing and I missed it by .04 a.k.a. four-hundredths of a point.  Yea.  I was pissed too.  But that’s okay because I had the most academic regalia to wear at graduation.  I looked hot in my regalia.

Anyway, I just about gave up on the looking perfect thing mostly because I wasn’t out to impress anyone.  I didn’t join any groups other than honor societies because I couldn’t motivate myself to go to meetings.  Well, I did try joining one group but they were too radical for me, and I didn’t really get along with anyone in that group.  Besides, I couldn’t find any other groups that aligned with my interests.

Maybe I’m just a tough critic, but I am still in awe of those ladies who manage to look *perfect* all of the time – clothes, hair, makeup – because I still haven’t figured out how to do that yet!  That and my hair has always kind of done its own thing, so you can’t really tame the mane :)

Childfree

I have never changed a diaper.  I have only (briefly) held one or two babies in my life.  If someone handed me a baby, or if for some reason one of them came out of my body, I would have absolutely NO idea what to do with it.  As an intelligent adult, I understand safety concerns (safety first!), but I wouldn’t know what to DO with it as far as baths, food, naps, playtime, etc. go.

I’m okay with that.  But I am tired of people thinking that I’m the weird one or that I need to learn.

Unlike many classmates in elementary school, my mom never had any other kids.  No family friends were pregnant or had babies that were around me.  I didn’t have older sisters or friends that had babies or anything like that around me.  So I was never around babies or young kids and I never had a reason to learn how to interact with them.

I’m only 22 and I have no idea whether I’ll actually have want or have kids.  Growing up I decided that I never wanted to have kids, and everyone in my family has berated me for saying that.  My aunt tells me that my life will be sad and lonely without children.  My mom exclaims, “My friend Suzanne said she didn’t want any, and God blessed her with twins!”  These comments are null though.  I don’t think that you need children to be fulfilled.  I also believe in birth control and having a choice over whether and when you choose to have children. 

I do know for sure that I don’t want kids any time soon.  To be honest, being a parent when you’re not prepared and can’t afford a kid or just plain don’t want one sounds like the most awful thing ever.  And I’m not going to feel bad for saying that.  If I am going to have a kid I’d rather do it when I’m ready - when I have a career, a house, and when and if my husband and I have decided that we would like to start a family.

Now I know that sometimes things happen unexpectedly.  But that’s no excuse for not at least trying to prevent pregnancy if you’re not ready or capable or raising a child.

That said, I really like this article that I found.  It’s really unfair how some things are the “norm” whether or not they actually should be.  I don’t get why people are expected to have kids.  There are too many people having babies that really should not be.  Too many kids are abused, neglected, abandoned, or born into terrible poverty-laden lives.  So many don’t even get a chance, because things around them are so bad.  Plus, having a child before you are ready really tests the relationship between the mother and father, if there even is a relationship.  Many of these relationships and even marriages fail and it’s sad to think that they might not have if they had not become parents so soon.

I’d like to enjoy my life and do things for me and my boyfriend.  I’d like to continue to deepen my relationship with my him and do fun things.  Even if we were to get married, I’d want us to enjoy the first few years of marriage as husband and wife.  I don’t like to rush into things, and I don’t like being unprepared and I think that being a parent is a hardcore job.

Francia Raisa

I hate hair.  Let me repeat: I HATE hair.  It’s ok when it looks good, but I don’t like it touching me or getting in my way.  I really think it’s just a huge hassle.
But if I could choose, I’d choose hair like this:

I think Francia Raisa is so pretty and I absolutely LOVE the way her they style her hair when she plays Adrian on Secret Life. 
   
I also like Shailene Woodley’s hair.  I love the way they style her bangs as swept across her forehead instead of just hanging straight down.  I’m not a fan of blunt bangs like that.  They don’t really look good on anyone.
 
Her hair looks even better this season:
I love Secret Life and I’m currently catching up on the most recent episodes.  I used to watch it every week on ABC Family’s website, but fell behind on the “Just Say Me” episode.  Yea the show is a little corny, and yea a lot of it is unrealistic, but this show gets better with each episode.  They throw some humor in there, and with the more recent episodes there has been a lot of character development.  Recently, the characters have even brought up a lot of issues that commonly arise in real life: friends with benefits, different views regarding casual sex, birth control, and the motivations behind actions for both boys and girls, and how those motivations and actions can affect the outcome.  How one action can destroy relationships, build friendships, and change the course of your life.
I’m a fan of this show.  And I’m going to continue to root for Amy.  With the unexpected turn of events in “Mistakes Were Made” I’m going to start rooting for Amy/Ricky.  I think they balance each other out.  Ricky keeps it real with Amy, and I think they could do a good job together.  I’m not sure about Jimmy yet – I don’t think he’s that cute, and while he seems to like Amy, we haven’t seen enough of his character and personality to see whether he would be a good fit for her.  Plus he’s kinda dumb.  I mean, he didn’t call her just because he found a condom in her purse.  I don’t like that he made assumptions, assumed that she was lying and then stopped talking to her.
I was glad to see Grace put Adrian in her place though.  She needed to hear it.  Even though Grace went and apologized afterwards, I think she had every right to say the things she did, and if I were her I wouldn’t have apologized!  Adrian needs to hear that she really did the wrong thing!  I like how they brought up two different viewpoints though on whether an act is wrong in and of itself or whether it is wrong because of the effect it has on others.  Good conversation starters!
Anyway, that’s my dork of the day.  Now I’m off to secure lunch.  I haven’t eaten a meal since lunch yesterday.  Had a couple snacks yesterday evening, but it felt like there was a war in my stomach and decided it would be best to wait until everything settled down in there.  Then I need to do some other stuff.

Jason Derulo

So my favorite thing about Jason Derulo is the fact that he says his name at the beginning of each of his songs.  I find that extremely helpful, because if he didn’t, I honestly wouldn’t know who he was.

I enjoyed his first song, and I really like his newest song, “In My Head.”  Not only do I like his voice, but I really like the song, and I really enjoy the fact that I can sing it relatively in tune!

Checked out the video for this song for the first time on his Youtube channel, and as soon as the dancing started 15 seconds in, saw exactly where his inspiration and dance moves came from.  Honestly, you can’t miss it.  Remember this classic?  This is one of my personal favorites. 

Now, I am not going to comment on anything relating to Michael Jackson’s life, death or in controversies in-between.  In this post, I simply want to observe the impact that his style has had on pop culture.  I think the “In My Head” video is cute.  JR’s a good dancer, and the story comes across in everything – from the chemistry between him and the female lead to the ‘fantasy’ club scenes.  He does well in this video.  I like that it’s not explicit.  And the influence is clear: you will recognize that about 50% of JR’s choreography in the video are purely MJ moves.  The other 50% is a blend of regular hip-hop dance moves. 

So then of course, I check out the behind the scenes where JR confirms that his inspiration for his video was in fact the video for “The Way You Make Me Feel.”

I think that’s wonderful.  Controversies, scandals and rumor aside, if you just look at the enormous amount of talent that Michael Jackson had, and the original ideas that he had as far as music, dance moves, and performance ideas go, you can’t say that he hasn’t had a huge impact on the development of popular music.  Even after his death, we still see artists using his ideas and dance moves and theme in their own work.  I know that there have only been a handful of people who have made real, original, and lasting contributions to pop music, dancing and performance, and I know that Michael Jackson was one of them.

Jason Derulo seems like a genuine guy.  I look forward to hearing more of his music and wish him success in his career.

Some of these ‘feminists’ are really just nuts!

Okay, stuff like this is why feminists have a bad wrap.
Did you check out their reporting on the casting call?  I think that’s funny.  In order to get a complete picture though, you have to read the comments below.  That gives you an idea of how ridiculous these people are.
So Disney is hosting a casting call for a new movie.  That’s cool.  Great opportunity for anyone that is talented and fits what they are looking for.  According to this article, Disney has very specific height and size requirements.  Okay, well for an industry that is based entirely on visual appeal in the form of physical beauty and CG animation, that’s fair.  As far as I’m concerned, if they are making the movie, they call the shots on who they want to cast, and how they want it to go.
Well in this case, Disney has also decided that they want the actress to have real boobs.  Still don’t see anything wrong with that.  Disney is about projecting an image and making family entertainment.
Well then the article goes on to mention that the Disney filmmakers have cautioned against women with implants from auditioning by stating that they will require ‘show and tell’ to prove that the actress’ boobs are real. 
Here’s where the opinions on that site are wrong.
Ummm so responding to an open casting call is completely optional.  Whether or not you go to any auditions is entirely up to you.  If you choose to engage in that process, then you choose to submit yourself to whatever it is they are asking for.  If you are uncomfortable, then you walk away.  Better yet, since you know ahead of of time that they are requiring a boob test and you choose to go and get offended or feel violated then you are the idiot. 
Showbiz is all about looks and selling ideas through entertainment.  The creative directors/filmmakers/owners/investors/whoever is making the project happen has the right to select whomever they want to represent their brand or act in their movie, or promote their product or whatever it is they are trying to do!  If you know ahead of time that you are going to be offended or disturbed by their business practices or recruiting methods then don’t get involved!!  And if you don’t fit what they are looking for (and Disney is very specific about everything they do) then don’t even bother showing up!!!  No one is going to feel bad for you.
The feminist who posted this article, and the individuals that commented on it obviously have a very skewed viewpoint.  Disney’s casting call is not a women’s rights issue, nor is it offensive.  Rather, my sensibilities are offended when I read garbage like that!  People choose to pursue careers as actors, models, entertainers, etc.  No one forces you.
And as far as the Keira Knightley thing – reporting that her corset was so tight that she could only wear it for several minutes at a time before passing out – well as uncomfortable as that sounds, the Pirates of the Caribbean films really launched her career and she is rolling in big bucks now.  Nobody forced her into doing that role – she signed a contract.  And whatever Disney did, they did it right.  She’s got major fame and she’s rolling in big bucks now.  So I’m sure it was all worth it.  I bet she never has to wear a corset ever again.  Unless she wants to.

True Life: These People are Retarded!

It gets more and more ridiculous.  I don’t get the obsession with failing relationships and people being obsessed with being “serious” with each other when they really don’t need to be together at all!!
And what is it with all of these ugly people trying to be models?  It’s bad enough that the “supermodels” only function as walking hangers, but people with busted faces shouldn’t even try to get into that industry.  Ugh but that’s another story.  Back to the situation at hand.
I watch True Life a lot.  Unfortunately, I believe that some episodes of True Life do reflect how dumb people are in real life.  I’m currently watching True Life: I’m at a Crossroads in My Relationship.  Each of the ladies featured in the episode deserves her own title to describe her situation:
True Life: I’m Dating a Loser and Can’t Figure Out Why I’m Unhappy
and
True Life: I Shouldn’t be in Allowed to be in a Relationship
Umm yea, I feel like I have the right to comment on this.  People are dumb.  So one girl is dating a loser who is clearly only staying with her in order to mooch.  Dude is not a catch, and that is evident from his interactions with her.  The girl seems cool though, and I think she has a good future but only if she dumps loser.  I’ve seen a couple of my friends go through this pattern and it never ends well.  
And why do people say shit like “saving grace.”  I don’t like that.  It doesn’t sound cute.
On a different episodes called True Life: I Can’t Leave My Boyfriend there is a blonde girl dating a guy named Hangman.  Yea.  Hangman.  Think about that for a second.  Hangman is 40.  Blonde girl is 20.  Even though Hangman is not good for blonde girl, she is obsessed with him.  But she claims that she doesn’t care whether they break up or stay together.  Then she moves home to Pennsylvania and leaves him in New York.  Here’s my real concern with this episode:  when we first meet blonde girl, she introduces herself as a sophomore at the Fashion Institute of Technology, or FIT.  Then she spends half of the episode deciding whether she should move back to PA.  She even realizes that unless she completely leaves NY, she is not going to be able to leave Hangman.  Umm WTF?  So she ditched her entire career and dropped out of school so she could control her urges to be with this Hangman?  I really hope not, but that is what is implied in the episode.  Hopefully she just moved back for summer break or something.
Anyway, I guess I just don’t realize why people stay together when they can’t stand each other and are truly miserable.  My mom would suggest that they only do it to get their 15 minutes on MTV.  Normally I would shrug it off as that, but even though True Life may be exaggerated, there are people who really do live like this.  They stay in miserable relationships or stay with their partner regardless of whether they actually care for one another simply so they can “be in a relationship.”  I’ve seen it several times.  Usually from those girls who have made it their life goal to be a housewife.  The same girls who do the casual sex thing while secretly hoping that it will turn into a lifetime commitment.  The same girls that are obsessed with dating.  The same girls I talked about in my last blog.
It sucks when you are so close to the problem that you can’t see it clearly.  We’ve all been in that position one way or another.  Unfortunately, even when outside observations suggest that there is something wrong – or even when it is obvious – they often can’t see it, or refuse to acknowledge it.
I may sound harsh, but I am just stating what I know to be true.  I don’t proclaim to know everything, I just believe that some things are right, and some things are wrong.  And it has nothing to do with religion or politics.  I don’t think things are right or wrong based on the actual act being performed, rather, I think that things are right or wrong based on the effect that they have on other people.  More on this to come.