Ok, look, so everyone else is bringing back their blogs for 2010 (I know; I’m such a sheep sometimes) and I think four months away from this blog was enough to adjust to my new life, so I’m back. I keep reading my Google reader and come across so many things I want to tell you guys about anyways.
It’s time to quit dilly-dallying and get down to business. I’m even getting started on my New Year’s resolution the day before Jan. 1st. That’s how dedicated I am. (And it also means I more than likely won’t be posting on tomorrow, haha.)
First, updates:
Although 2009 was a rough year for lots of people, overall I think it was a good year for me. Although it was probably one of the hardest years of my life, I think I learned a lot and I definitely came out on top. Here's proof:
1) I live in New York City.
2) I got a job as an editorial assistant at a national women’s magazine. (Check for 2009 New Year’s Resolution #1)
3) I lost at least five pounds. (Check for 2009 New Year’s Resolution #2)
4) I still have a thing for long distance boys, but I’m trying out the local scene, too. The boy mentioned in the date below didn’t work out due to moving to New York though.
Second, 2010 Resolutions:
1) Lose another five pounds. (Small goals, but hey, at least I keep them.)
2) Write, write, write. As an EA, I don’t get to write a whole lot yet, so I need/want to keep writing. I’m keeping this resolution pretty open, though. Writing will include this blog and any other possible blogs I may start as well as freelance stuff (which I really do plan on jumping on at some point in 2010).
3) I want to save money. By December 31, 2010, I want to have at least three months rent saved up. This will be no easy feat, but I started this when I started getting real paychecks. I have a lot of big expenses coming up (two weddings!), so I need to get serious about it.
4) Volunteer. Not just anywhere though. I want to find something I’m passionate about, so I imagine that will take me in the direction of something to do with media, women or the military.
I think four resolutions is enough, right? I only made two in 2009, but I kept both of them, which makes me happy.
What about you? Did you make any resolutions?
Wow, it already feels good to be back.
Showing posts with label dating et al. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dating et al. Show all posts
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Monday, May 18, 2009
Gift Emergencies Solved
Is it just me or is everyone getting married? I guess I’m sort of at that age where marriage becomes a real possibility. Then there is graduation; the class of 2009 is now out and about. And all us “adults” are working on that whole “career” deal, whatever that’s about.
All these celebrations call for gifts, too. But what should you get them? Shopping for presents is always hard unless of course they tell you what they want. During these occasions, you generally want a gift that’s useful, too. More stress.
Well stress no more because I found the coolest site: Ms. & Mrs. (I found it on SELF’s Beyond the Beauty Pages. Elaine, the beauty director, blogged about it.) This site offers “special occasion survival kits” for things like weddings, babies, college, new jobs and random emergencies.
I like the Shemergency and Working Girl’s kit most. Check it out:
All these celebrations call for gifts, too. But what should you get them? Shopping for presents is always hard unless of course they tell you what they want. During these occasions, you generally want a gift that’s useful, too. More stress.
Well stress no more because I found the coolest site: Ms. & Mrs. (I found it on SELF’s Beyond the Beauty Pages. Elaine, the beauty director, blogged about it.) This site offers “special occasion survival kits” for things like weddings, babies, college, new jobs and random emergencies.
I like the Shemergency and Working Girl’s kit most. Check it out:
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Women and Men, Pt. 2
I told you this story was never-ending. Below is a man’s POV on women and today we have a woman’s POV on men. Amelia on TheFrisky.com wrote “Seven Things I Learned About Men From Working at Maxim.” After working at Maxim for two and a half years-ish, a predominantly male work zone, here’s a few of the lessons she learned:
Her Truth: All men are nerds.
She means that men aren’t necessarily sexist jocks (although she admits some are). What I got out of this lesson was that most guys actually end up being normal people with strange quirks. That’s a comforting thought, right?
Her Truth: Guys don’t kiss and tell nearly as much as women do.
I think as a generalization this might stand, but I know for a fact that some guys kiss and share every detail. Women are definitely worse though. This goes along with a lesson in the other story: a date isn’t over until she’s shared it with her friends. I wonder what keeps guys from not sharing as much though.
Her Truth: Men love dares.
When I read this, all I could think about was “I TRIPLE DOG DARE YOU” from A Christmas Story. She has some pretty funny examples, too. Wearing women’s tennis outfits to staff meetings? Definitely amusing. It kind of makes me wonder what I can trick my guy friends into doing.
I’ll say that her list wasn’t as funny as the other list, but it’s still worth reading. The prank one was pretty good. Maybe it’ll help with some last minute April Fool’s pranks.
Her Truth: All men are nerds.
She means that men aren’t necessarily sexist jocks (although she admits some are). What I got out of this lesson was that most guys actually end up being normal people with strange quirks. That’s a comforting thought, right?
Her Truth: Guys don’t kiss and tell nearly as much as women do.
I think as a generalization this might stand, but I know for a fact that some guys kiss and share every detail. Women are definitely worse though. This goes along with a lesson in the other story: a date isn’t over until she’s shared it with her friends. I wonder what keeps guys from not sharing as much though.
Her Truth: Men love dares.
When I read this, all I could think about was “I TRIPLE DOG DARE YOU” from A Christmas Story. She has some pretty funny examples, too. Wearing women’s tennis outfits to staff meetings? Definitely amusing. It kind of makes me wonder what I can trick my guy friends into doing.
I’ll say that her list wasn’t as funny as the other list, but it’s still worth reading. The prank one was pretty good. Maybe it’ll help with some last minute April Fool’s pranks.
Monday, March 30, 2009
A Never-Ending Story: Women and Men
While scouring through the ridiculous amount of blogs now in my Google Reader (I’m up to 72!), I came across this article, “9 Things I Learned About Women From Editing Maxim,” and it made me laugh. I love the endless amount of lists that supposedly explain everything about women or men. The relationship between women and men continues to amaze and amuse me.
The author Keith Blanchard edited Maxim for four years and came out with this list of things he learned about women. Below are a few of my favorites with comments. (If you click on the article, you can read his comments on his list. I think it's worth reading (if anything for a good laugh).
His fact: Women like when you play with their hair.
I agree with this one especially when you’re cuddling in bed or on the couch watching TV. It’s so calming. But it isn’t like we’re the only ones that like this. I know quite a few guys who like this, too.
His fact: Women have the raw deal.
Finally, someone that recognizes this. His explanation is funny and sad all at the same time:
“We actually catalogued the details in one of the earliest Maxim pieces, "50 Reasons It's Great To Be a Guy." You know: "you don't have to carry a purse around," and "just one mood, all month long, ha ha!" and so on. Well, as the guys brainstormed, our list kept growing ("haircuts are cheaper!" and "more pay for the same work!" and "nobody is ever, ever looking at your ass!") and it started to dawn on us that this wasn't just a funny conceit: Biology and society have conspired to stack the deck unfairly against the fairer sex in dozens of ways.”
His fact: Women don’t believe men’s wandering gaze is innocent.
I like his reasoning here, too. He pretty much says that guys should try harder not to get caught. If it truly is an innocent gaze (see fact: He’s right. I don’t.), then stare on your free time. You aren’t with us all the time. Sadly, us girls know we can be a little self-conscious and we know you know that, too. Spare us from doubting ourselves and from the argument that’s bound to happen. It’s what going out with your buddies is for.
The author Keith Blanchard edited Maxim for four years and came out with this list of things he learned about women. Below are a few of my favorites with comments. (If you click on the article, you can read his comments on his list. I think it's worth reading (if anything for a good laugh).
His fact: Women like when you play with their hair.
I agree with this one especially when you’re cuddling in bed or on the couch watching TV. It’s so calming. But it isn’t like we’re the only ones that like this. I know quite a few guys who like this, too.
His fact: Women have the raw deal.
Finally, someone that recognizes this. His explanation is funny and sad all at the same time:
“We actually catalogued the details in one of the earliest Maxim pieces, "50 Reasons It's Great To Be a Guy." You know: "you don't have to carry a purse around," and "just one mood, all month long, ha ha!" and so on. Well, as the guys brainstormed, our list kept growing ("haircuts are cheaper!" and "more pay for the same work!" and "nobody is ever, ever looking at your ass!") and it started to dawn on us that this wasn't just a funny conceit: Biology and society have conspired to stack the deck unfairly against the fairer sex in dozens of ways.”
His fact: Women don’t believe men’s wandering gaze is innocent.
I like his reasoning here, too. He pretty much says that guys should try harder not to get caught. If it truly is an innocent gaze (see fact: He’s right. I don’t.), then stare on your free time. You aren’t with us all the time. Sadly, us girls know we can be a little self-conscious and we know you know that, too. Spare us from doubting ourselves and from the argument that’s bound to happen. It’s what going out with your buddies is for.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Wake-Up Call
SELF magazine had a really interesting article in the March 2009 issue, “Single, pregnant and panicked.” When I read it, it shocked me and made me think. Then Salon.com wrote a blog post about the article, and it made me want to talk about it here.
The general point of the story in SELF is this: Unexpected teen pregnancies are not the bulk of unexpected pregnancies. That said, guess who makes up the bulk. Females in their 20s do. Women like me. Wow.
The beginning of the post on Salon.com starts with this: “About half of American women will have an accidental pregnancy before the age of 45.” I’m sure that not all of those women are single, nor are all of those pregnancies are unwanted. In fact, to be honest, I was unexpected. My parents were planning on waiting another year or so, but clearly I was a little impatient to get my life started.
But why the (for the most part) college-educated woman in her 20s? Some ideas include getting married later in life, but still being sexually active; living with their partners; and even being forced into having unprotected sex. SELF continues to say that birth rates may have increased because more unmarried women are deciding to keep their babies. I think maybe it’s partly a lack of education about the proper use of birth control or just not properly using birth control or this ridiculous notion some of us have that “it will never happen to me.”
But I think this quote says a lot: "It's confusing to talk about it," says Shanti Kulkarni, Ph.D., assistant professor in the department of social work at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. "It's easier to coalesce around this idea that it's not good for teenagers to get pregnant. It's not as clear what pregnancy means for the life of a woman in her 20s." For some women, surprise motherhood ends up being the blessing of a lifetime. Others choose abortion with no regrets. But the high rate of unintended pregnancy remains distressing, Kulkarni says, because "it suggests that women are not as in control of their sexuality and childbearing as we would hope."
Scary, isn’t it though? How do you go about solving it? Or should it be labeled as a problem? You can’t really tell a 20-something-year-old woman that sex is bad. You can tell her unprotected sex is bad, but chances are she knows that. What approach do you take? I’m glad SELF decided to run this story though because at least it brings about awareness.
The part Salon.com picks up is that in all the examples of SELF the women either give the child up for adoption or keep their child, but end up needing support from family. The article lacks two major points of view: the women who had an abortion and the woman who kept her baby and continued to support herself and child. I kind of agree. Thanks SELF for bringing this out into the public, but we need to flesh out the whole story. What happens to those women? What was their decision making process like? Do they come out ok, too?
By sharing all sides of the story, doesn’t that make you a little more educated at least in your choices should you ever become pregnant? And beyond the women, what about the men? I know SELF is a woman’s magazine, but shouldn’t someone inform men that, guess what, this girl in the story could be your girlfriend, and you’re about to have a baby.
I’ve never been in this situation, and I pray I never am. I’ve known a lot of women in this position though. So not to be a Debbie Downer, but remember, a lot of you are 20-something-year-old women, a lot of you are dating 20-something-year-old women, a lot of you have 20-something-year-old daughters, a lot of you have sons who are dating 20-something-year-old women.
Please read both stories. Let it sink in. If you want to chat about it, leave a comment or e-mail me.
PS: If you plan to comment about it, I’d prefer no negativity. I realize everyone’s opinions are different, but being that this is my blog, I ask you to be respectful. Otherwise, I’ll delete the comment. The point of this post is to bring awareness; not to judge.
The general point of the story in SELF is this: Unexpected teen pregnancies are not the bulk of unexpected pregnancies. That said, guess who makes up the bulk. Females in their 20s do. Women like me. Wow.
The beginning of the post on Salon.com starts with this: “About half of American women will have an accidental pregnancy before the age of 45.” I’m sure that not all of those women are single, nor are all of those pregnancies are unwanted. In fact, to be honest, I was unexpected. My parents were planning on waiting another year or so, but clearly I was a little impatient to get my life started.
But why the (for the most part) college-educated woman in her 20s? Some ideas include getting married later in life, but still being sexually active; living with their partners; and even being forced into having unprotected sex. SELF continues to say that birth rates may have increased because more unmarried women are deciding to keep their babies. I think maybe it’s partly a lack of education about the proper use of birth control or just not properly using birth control or this ridiculous notion some of us have that “it will never happen to me.”
But I think this quote says a lot: "It's confusing to talk about it," says Shanti Kulkarni, Ph.D., assistant professor in the department of social work at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. "It's easier to coalesce around this idea that it's not good for teenagers to get pregnant. It's not as clear what pregnancy means for the life of a woman in her 20s." For some women, surprise motherhood ends up being the blessing of a lifetime. Others choose abortion with no regrets. But the high rate of unintended pregnancy remains distressing, Kulkarni says, because "it suggests that women are not as in control of their sexuality and childbearing as we would hope."
Scary, isn’t it though? How do you go about solving it? Or should it be labeled as a problem? You can’t really tell a 20-something-year-old woman that sex is bad. You can tell her unprotected sex is bad, but chances are she knows that. What approach do you take? I’m glad SELF decided to run this story though because at least it brings about awareness.
The part Salon.com picks up is that in all the examples of SELF the women either give the child up for adoption or keep their child, but end up needing support from family. The article lacks two major points of view: the women who had an abortion and the woman who kept her baby and continued to support herself and child. I kind of agree. Thanks SELF for bringing this out into the public, but we need to flesh out the whole story. What happens to those women? What was their decision making process like? Do they come out ok, too?
By sharing all sides of the story, doesn’t that make you a little more educated at least in your choices should you ever become pregnant? And beyond the women, what about the men? I know SELF is a woman’s magazine, but shouldn’t someone inform men that, guess what, this girl in the story could be your girlfriend, and you’re about to have a baby.
I’ve never been in this situation, and I pray I never am. I’ve known a lot of women in this position though. So not to be a Debbie Downer, but remember, a lot of you are 20-something-year-old women, a lot of you are dating 20-something-year-old women, a lot of you have 20-something-year-old daughters, a lot of you have sons who are dating 20-something-year-old women.
Please read both stories. Let it sink in. If you want to chat about it, leave a comment or e-mail me.
PS: If you plan to comment about it, I’d prefer no negativity. I realize everyone’s opinions are different, but being that this is my blog, I ask you to be respectful. Otherwise, I’ll delete the comment. The point of this post is to bring awareness; not to judge.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Time To Test the Water?
Living in a new place means meeting new people, something I really haven't done that much of. Maybe it's laziness. Maybe I get a little shy when I'm by myself. Maybe I'm not a big fan of going out on my own. Maybe this, maybe that. My list will never end.
Maybe it's time I take action.
Thanks to BettyConfidential.com, I have some new ideas on where to attempt meeting new people (ok, mostly men, but whatever, maybe I'll find new girl friends, too). Their number one place to meet hot guys is... Chipotle! Strange, no? I'm not sure there is one around me. We have a Baja Fresh; will that work? They claim the best place to find a date is... Whole Foods! Yeah, don't shop there. Harris Teeter will have to work. Next, if you're into a hot, sexy, healthy, fit guy, they suggest trying a triathlon. HA! My substitution? The gym. Normally I go in there to actually work out, but maybe I'll hang out a little longer and try to make some friends. I've kind of talked to people, but not really. Plus I think most of them go there to...surprise! work out!
The last two on the list aren't really helpful to me particularly. Best place to be single? Alaska. It has 114 men for every 100 single women, according to the U.S. Census. Sounds great, but something tells me Alaska is not my cup of tea. For all you recent divorcees, your second husband is waiting for you at the playground on a Saturday morning (if you like children, of course. Otherwise maybe hit up Chipotle or Whole Foods.).
With warm weather (supposedly) approaching soon, meeting new people sounds like a good idea. Where do you find luck meeting new people? Let me know, and I'll let you know if any of these places (or substitutes) work out!
Maybe it's time I take action.
Thanks to BettyConfidential.com, I have some new ideas on where to attempt meeting new people (ok, mostly men, but whatever, maybe I'll find new girl friends, too). Their number one place to meet hot guys is... Chipotle! Strange, no? I'm not sure there is one around me. We have a Baja Fresh; will that work? They claim the best place to find a date is... Whole Foods! Yeah, don't shop there. Harris Teeter will have to work. Next, if you're into a hot, sexy, healthy, fit guy, they suggest trying a triathlon. HA! My substitution? The gym. Normally I go in there to actually work out, but maybe I'll hang out a little longer and try to make some friends. I've kind of talked to people, but not really. Plus I think most of them go there to...surprise! work out!
The last two on the list aren't really helpful to me particularly. Best place to be single? Alaska. It has 114 men for every 100 single women, according to the U.S. Census. Sounds great, but something tells me Alaska is not my cup of tea. For all you recent divorcees, your second husband is waiting for you at the playground on a Saturday morning (if you like children, of course. Otherwise maybe hit up Chipotle or Whole Foods.).
With warm weather (supposedly) approaching soon, meeting new people sounds like a good idea. Where do you find luck meeting new people? Let me know, and I'll let you know if any of these places (or substitutes) work out!
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