Spring cleaning your social image

Everyone loves a little spring cleaning, right? Okay, maybe not. But it is often something we do nonetheless. Spring is a great time to clean your home or your life. You’ve spent all winter cramped up inside and it’s time to freshen things up. As you go about straightening your home and your life, don’t forget about your digital life. It is very important to do a social media inventory and scrub anything that is unnecessary, negative, or inflammatory.

Employers pay good money to employ analysts to scour social media profiles of job candidates to find dirt. Human resource managers spend time pouring over pages to find out if a candidate is a good fit for the culture of the company. You don’t want your profile to scream DON”T HIRE ME!

Some of the top reasons a candidate gets rejected for their social persona are provocative photos, information about drinking or doing drugs, poor communication skills and poor grammar, and bad mouthing a previous employer. Here’s a tip, just don’t post any of those items, ever. Even if you know you’ll spring clean the offending posts, leave them off your pages or guard with high privacy. Information post to the internet cannot be taken back.

Since the damage has already been done, go through your pages from top to bottom on the feeds and delete questionable posts, take down and untag distasteful photos, etc. With a little elbow grease, privacy settings, and common sense your profile will be ready to go!

365: How to display my art

My 365 Day Photo project was a rousing success. By that I mean that I managed to take a photo on every day of the year. I also managed to not make my photo project a diary of what I did each day or what I ate. I attempted to take a semi artistic photo or at least a snap of something I thought was beautiful each day. After all, that’s what the project was about… finding beauty in ordinary things and seeing beauty every day.

Normally when I finish a photo project I pick out frames, matting, and decide where I want to hang my creations. Not this time! Way too many photos and my wall space is already taken with quality “art work.” So, I set out to think of different ways I can display my work that will help remind me of the project’s mission.

I turned my favorite photo into a cell phone case. This idea came at a time when it was much needed. The nice (looked fancy) case I had started cracking and chipping around my birthday weekend, likely from too many drops. My replacement was a cover I had previously bought but frequently rejected. While it looks cool (a purple cassette tape) it is very difficult to use in everyday situations. The rubber material got caught on everything, which made it hard to put the phone in my purse, in my pockets, on the cell phone mount in my car, etc. My phone would also worm its way out of the case and I would have to keep putting it back on. Not ideal! The new case is fabulous on its own. Very protective and secure. My photo design is the plus. Since I see my phone every day it reminds me of my beauty searching goal.

I also decided to turn some of the photos into birthday gifts. I used the gasoline rainbow photo from my cell phone case and created a magnet that said “365 days of beautiful.” Then I made a magnet out of a photo from each person’s birthday week with the birthday scrawled on it. I had the idea to do a photo of my choosing, but it was my friend Belinda who had the idea of the birthday photo. The card enclosed wishes the friend a happy birthday and that each day is as beautiful as their birthday (I hope May 4th doesn't read this blog. Otherwise, surprise!).

The round magnets in the box are some glitter magnets I made. Another nice personal touch to the gift. That idea is from Pinterest.

Perfect ways to display my photos and celebrate my project. I’m sure I will think of more creative ways to showcase my art, but for now I am pleased. I get a reminder every day when I look at my phone and my friends get their reminders in the shape of a homemade gift. And who doesn’t love homemade gifts?

Homemade red carpet accessory

Bonus fun for awards season! I am going to a red carpet party to watch the Oscars.  I borrowed a gown from a friend, bought swanky jewelry, but I needed a purse to tie it all together. I didn't want to buy one for this one occasion of playing dress up, so I improvised.

I took a black wallet and made it into a black and gold pattered clutch. I started with a black wallet that I no longer use. It is in good shape, but I stopped using it because I was tired of having to move all of my cards and money to another wallet every time I wanted to opt for a brown purse.

I head-designed a chevron pattern on the wallet, black bold lines on a gold wallet. I bought the supplies, gold fabric paint and masking tape (I already had a brush in my giant craft supply collection).

I put tape on the wallet in the places I wanted to stay black and I started painting. One side at a time, allowing for plenty of drying time. But ooopsie! Anyone who knows me knows I can be impatient. I attempted to clean up a line on the backside while the front was still a bit tacky. I laid the wallet down on the front, thinking it was dry enough, and the next day I had slight traces of newspaper on the front of the wallet and little gold sparkles straying outside my nice, clean line. I'll wait until I am all done painting to fix this up because I don't want another repeat to make things worse.

When I was all done and satisfied, I scraped the gold sparkles off with a box cutter blade until I was satisfied and then used a sharpie to cover up any traces of a mistake. It worked! Now I have an expertly crafted clutch to go with my dress. Better yet, I spent only $5. The wallet isn't ruined; It now has a new life!

Punctuation is your friend

I love punctuation. I liberally use commas and always complete a sentence with a period. If I accidentally send a text message without the finishing touch I immediately regret my mental lapse and worry the person on the receiving end will think I am a moron. Seriously though, you don't have to love punctuation like I do but a simple low level use would be appreciated. Punctuation is your friend.

I have a hard time reading a lot of things on my Facebook feed lately. Without the period sentences run together and make no sense. I can't tell where one thought ends and another begins. I know the words you write make sense in your head, but isn't the purpose of communication to actually have someone understand what you are saying. If no one understands you are yelling into a vacuum. Why attempt to post something on social media if effective communication is not the goal? After all, Facebook is not Twitter and you won't run into the same character limitation trouble. So, why omit characters?

Punctuation is important. We've all read the promotions for commas being the difference between eating grandma and inviting grandma to eat (Let's eat grandma vs. Let's eat, grandma). Perhaps this campaign and those like it have been too subtle and now people have decided to also refrain from using periods. Some sentences can be understood differently as a result. It could be the difference between i'm not coming over tonight? and I'm not. Coming over tonight?

While we're on the subject. I cringe at common grammarical errors and I don't hate to admit it, but I judge people. I'm not sorry. I learned most of these in high school or before. Here's a list. Review it. Learn it.

There, their, they’re

were, we’re

Its, it’s

To, too, two

Then, than

Less, fewer

Lets, let’s

Awards season excitement

I love awards season. There is so much excitement in the air. Anyone who knows me knows I like to get in on the excitement. I throw costume parties, go to marathon movie screenings, and try to watch all of the movies nominated for the Best Picture Oscar. This year things are no different.

I have accomplished my goal of watching all of the movies nominated for the top prize. It's fun to check them off the list and compare one against another. Although, some years it is hard to compare the movies because their merits are so wide ranging. Don't worry, I will blog about my favorites. I wouldn't leave you hanging like that!

This year, I am going to a fancy event at a movie theater. I'll be dressing up in a red carpet-worthy gown and hopefully I'll have a cocktail in my hand as I watch all the glitz and glamor of hollywood. In the past, I have thrown costume parties complete with themed treats, and games (Oscar bingo anyone?). Last year, I dressed as Bradley Cooper in Silver Linings Playbook. It was quite hilarious. So, this year's party will be less humorous (however still a good time) and my costume will be much more glamorous than the trash bag I wore over my sweats last year.

Perhaps I'll do something fun this year with social media for all of my blog readers (I know there aren't many of you, but I am amused by writing). I think I'll compile a list of comments and observances and post them. Sort of like if I were live tweeting, but instead of sending my thoughts out to the world every minute or so, I'll save my followers the annoyance of my ramblings and I'll just post one bulk thought stream. It's a plan!

Dryer sheets battle staticky hair

It recently occurred to me that I have some interesting home remedies that others may find valuable. For instance, years ago I learned that dryer sheets work great on staticky winter hair. So, I carry a sheet in my purse for those moments when I feel like cursing the flyaway strands. Then, one day when a co-worker was complaining about her winter hat hair I flippantly mentioned that she should try dryer sheets. I was inundated with a million questions: what?, why?, how?, etc.

Yes, dryer sheets work wonders to tame a staticky mane. It is easy to stash them in your purse or coat pocket. While they won't revive flat hair due to hat wear, they will save you from looking like you were just peeled off of a laundered sock.

Movie Review: Blue Jasmine

Blue Jasmine

Directed by: Woody Allen

Starring: Cate Blanchett, Alec Baldwin, Sally Hawkins

Rating: A-

Again with the low expectations! This movie surpassed all I thought it would be. I had read some (unprofessional) reviews that the only reason Blue Jasmine is to be watched is for Cate Blanchett. Blanchett’s performance was versatile, multi dimensional, possessed, and just all together great. However, the rest of the movie deserves credit too. The director expertly tells the story of the fall of Jasmine all while showing her present and how she is unraveling from her brushes with reality. It is easy to love and to hate the character. I simultaneously felt sorry for her and annoyed with her. Sally Hawkins, who is nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Oscar, also performed well. Her character is believable in her desperate ways. She clings to any shred of hope and runs to a place of relative safety when there is none.

Packing like a champ

I have traveled quite a bit in my life. I've taken trips for long weekends even more. In all of that time I have learned some packing tips along the way. I realized I should share this knowledge when recently I stumbled upon another packing revelation. My tips can likely make packing easier for someone, even if it is because my advise spurred an idea of another alternate method.

Tip #1: Do not pack anything you can borrow or purchase cheaply upon arrival. This includes hair dryers and curling irons. These appliances only take up space and add weight to your bag. It may be slightly inconvenient to track down beauty accessories, but doing so will create more room for other things you need.

Tip #2: Pack socks inside of shoes. Ball them up and stuff them inside the shoes. The space inside your shoes will be there whether you fill it. So, you might as well take advantage.

Tip #3: Roll pants so they are easily stackable. This will keep them neat and relatively wrinkle free.

Tip #4: Pack clothes in order of when you'll wear them. Put the stuff you'll need sooner near the top of the suitcase. That way you won't have to fully unpack every time you want to get something from your suitcase.

Tip #5: If you are flying, make sure you're wearing the bulkiest items (within weather reason). At the same time, you'll want to make sure your items are easy to take off so you can easily and quickly get through the security line. Slip on shoes are great as are cardigans and jackets.

On a recent vacation I adhered to all of these rules, plus I armed myself with a plan. I was flying with a computer and a kindle in addition to all of the other usual travel items. I made all items that would need to be taken out for the TSA screeners easily accessible, i.e. baggie of liquids, computer, kindle, etc. Then after I got out of the line I put the items away, inside the suitcase and secure.

Having everything where I needed it and then putting the items away as soon as I was done with them made my travel more simple. Out with the old to make room for the new. My plan also ensures that I don't misplace things. I always know where I placed things.

Ground hog says stop complaining about winter

Ground Hog day. I'm not sure why anyone puts any stock in this old tradition. No shadow, six more weeks of winter. No matter what Punxsutawney Phil sees winter still feels the same. The transition out of the season is a slow one and I in no way think that on the date Phil foretold I will wake up and it will be warm and sunny. Also, I feel like Phil predates the same thing every year. I haven't looked up the stats, but I really wonder if Phil is involved in a conspiracy. I don't trust people (or animals) named Phil.

People like to complain about the weather. It is a common issue that we can all talk about. After all, in general we're all going through it (at least most everyone we come into physical contact with on a daily basis). This winter has been especially cold and snowy, but news flash: it is winter in Indiana. These things happen. Sure, a winter like this is more like a ten-year event, only happening once a decade. Still, you have chosen to live here, or at least your inaction is a choice in favor of living here. You may hate the cold, but you're still here. Don't burden everyone else and make the season miserable by complaining about it at every moment. It's not like you've never seen snow or had to put on a coat.

People often tell me that since I am from Wisconsin I must like the cold. This is not necessarily true. Growing up in a cold climate doesn't mean we revel in winter, and it doesn't mean we're used to it. Yes, we've seen worse. The truth about growing up in Wisconsin is we know how to handle the cold and snow. We dress appropriately so that we are not cold. We know how to prepare for the possibility of being snowed in or stuck inside due to a cold snap. We know how to drive in wintery weather, and we know what items to keep in our cars just in case. In this way, Wisconsinites are like Boy Scouts, always prepared.