Guilty!

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By now I am sure that you have seen the 5-minute video "Look Up" that has made a few bloggers (at least in my blogroll!) take a step back and think about social media, how they use it, and HOW OFTEN they use it. It certainly did that for me! If you haven't seen the video, please take 5-minutes now and do yourself that favorite and check it out here.

It is truly amazing how often a person can be caught looking down at a screen, not paying attention to what's going on around them. It's also amazing how much we miss when doing this! As a blogger, I know that I am so very guilty of constantly checking my email on my phone to see if I have any new comments, or how when silence hits when I am with someone my go-to move is to whip out my phone and see what is happening on Facebook or Twitter. How did I let this happen to myself??? I don't know about you, but I do think that it is a problem that personal, face-to-face conversation is not what it used to be!

This video did make an impact on how I view technology and social media. I have made a few promises to myself, not to completely cut it out because that is nearly impossible but to limit my use of it. For one, I have deleted Twitter and Facebook apps from my phone. That is the worst right there--having those apps with you on the go ensures that you are pretty much connected 24/7. This also limits how often I look down at my screen in order to combat a silence in a conversation...now I actually have to talk! Now the blog. I obviously love blogging! But it does take up some time. Here's my compromise. Once...only one part of the day will I dedicate to the blog and blog-related activities. Everything will be done in the morning with my morning cup. The rest of the day is blog-free.

If everyone takes steps to limit their tech and social media use and takes sometime to look up we can learn that we don't need to rely on it so much to entertain us and get us through the day. There is so much else around us that we have not paid much attention to that can do that job instead!

<3 Ashley

Have you seen the video? What are your thoughts? Does it change how you view social media and technology?

Also...anyone else see the irony in the post following a post devoted to my Pinterest addiction?? It's a process people! One step at a time.

Book Club: The Nanny Diaries

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Being on Spring Break really meant for me that I could sit around all day and do all of the leisure reading that I wanted to do. That's why your getting another book club post so close to the last one. "The Nanny Diaries" by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus is not as recently released as the other books that I have been reading and writing about, but it has been on my list for quite some time. I actually was not aware of this book until I had seen the movie--starring Scarlett Johansson and Chris Evans. I absolutely loved the movie which I saw in theaters when it came out in like..2007 (the book came out in 2002!)

I realized almost immediately that the book and movie were similar but by no means as close as some movies are to their literary inspirations. The story follows Nanny who is a senior in college and makes her money from nannying gigs around NYC. The focus here is on one family on the Upper East Side, the Xes who pretty much neglect their child. Nanny goes from being a part-time nanny to practically a full time caregiver and assistant to Mrs. X. She also plays witness to the drama and dysfunction of this family and marriage all while developing a relationship with a guy in the building "Harvard Hottie" <---Chris Evans in the movie...I swoon every time. ;)

I did like the movie better but at the same time I did very much enjoy the book! There is a sequel that I MAY get around to reading; not sure if that will be anytime soon. Anyway, I would recommend this book. I got through it rather quickly and found it quite entertaining.

<3 Ashley

Have you read "The Nanny Diaries"? Have you seen the movie? What are your thoughts?

The Other "B" Word

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Once in awhile, when I am watching the news at night a story will catch my attention and I will begin to obsessively research. Well last night just that happened. The story I am referring to discussed the efforts of a group, Lean In, to have the word "bossy" banned. The bossy label is something that has effected women for years with the perception that if you come off as too aggressive or "bossy" then there is a good chance that the people around you will not like you.

Even young girls are starting to get the message that participating and speaking up too much in class will earn her the label of overachiever which should by no means be a bad thing! I know that I have felt this sometimes as well. I mean, a lot of my quiet demeanor comes from the fact that I am simply a very shy person. However, I have observed how some of my peers reacted to the girls who were very active and vocal during discussions--judgmental, disapproving, joking looks. 

Through high school and my time in college so far, I have had to step up a bit in group projects and presentations due to the fact that a lot of times the people in my group were not very clear and organized in terms of what they wanted to do. I am happy that I have been able to boost my leadership abilities a bit, but at the same time the voice in my head is reminding me to take it down a notch and maintain my likability.

WHY IS THIS EVEN A CONCERN?! Why is the fact that I want to get something done in an organized way a bad thing? Why can't women be the least bit assertive without being labeled bossy or mean? Is society really still that insecure?

Here is an interview with the women at the helm of this effort!

<3 Ashley

What are your thoughts on the "bossy" label? What have your experiences been with this label?

The Effects of Social Media

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I feel like anymore I get inspiration for topics by scrolling through my blog feed. I came upon Jenni's post today on Story of My Life for Blogtember and felt a need to put in my two cents: How has social media and blogging effected your life?

An excellent question, I think! Social media has made communicating and sharing information these day so fast and easy. It is also a lot easier to reach more of a mass audience if that's what you're looking to do. But there are some effects that it's had on me that I would like to maybe reverse a little. I think the new found ability to share pictures and what I am doing have made me less of a private person; I used to pride myself on keeping things to myself. It's nice to have some memories just for yourself right? So I am starting to pull back--just a little--on instagramming and tweeting.

On the other hand, I was also a very shy person. Communicating through social media is so much easier since you're not exactly talking face-to-face with your subject. While my confidence isn't totally through the roof, blogging and social media have certainly helped me in pooling my ideas and delivering them in a way that I am satisfied with. Social media does still have both its pros and cons but I do have to thank all the platforms that I am a part of for giving me a launching pad on which to voice my opinions and interests.

<3 Ashley

How has social media/blogging effected your life?

I Know I'm A Little Late...

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Remember in my post about Letters to Juliet when I told you that I am the worst at keeping up with pop culture and staying on top of new releases? Well I have finally gotten around to really listening to Taylor Swift’s album “Red.” [read: now I’ve listened to more than “We Are Never Getting Back Together”] Anyway, what usually happens with me and Taylor Swift is that I will listen to an album for awhile and get a little tired of some of the songs--the kind of whine-y ones. However, I can honestly say that I love each and every song on this album.

My favorites are “All Too Well” and “The Last Time” which is a duet with the singer of Snow Patrol, Gary Lightbody. Overall, I think that there is a more grown-up vibe on this album than on any of her others; but that’s just me. “Red” also feels less country to me and enters more into the realm of pop which doesn’t really bother me (hey! she can do whatever she wants!) I have been listening to it a lot on my way too and from work; I find it to be a good one to drive to. I am disappointed that I won’t be able to catch her on the “Red” tour this summer since I’ve heard very good things about it and I enjoy this album so much. I definitely give “Red” two very enthusiastic thumbs up! (Clueless reference…I honestly cannot stop myself!)

<3 Ashley

What are your thoughts on “Red?” Will you/have you seen Taylor’s tour this summer?