Blog-4-Cause eBook

Want to help a great cause and get an inspiring eBook at the same time? As a blogger this creative fund-raising approach jumped out at me, and I thought I'd share.

By making a donation (of any amount) to the Susan G. Komen fund for breast cancer research through this page you will receive the Blog-4-Cause eBook created by over 150 participants, filled with favorite stories, inspirational moments, laughs, recipes, and physical and personal growth articles, in addition to a warm fuzzy feeling inside. Enjoy!

Being Lady GaGa: Success!

This post is at least a week late, but I just copied the pictures from my memory card. Lady GaGa fans and people who love dressing up for Halloween: read on. Also, check out the previous post about my costume for background.

October 24, 2009: fun on the subway to Caroline’s birthday / early Halloween party. The costume was a hit, the paparazzi took plenty of pictures, but I need a better head scarf. Attempts to remove my sunglasses were made the entire night, but I politely responded that it’s all part of the Poker Face. Below, I am holding a rolled up GaGa bill, à la the music video in which there is plenty of money to burn…

My backup dancer Minh looked great with his matching yellow shoes. Watch the video, and you’ll get it.

GaGa and “Babe Lincoln” got along well.

October 30, 2009: party at our humble abode in Manayunk (basement and upstairs, could have fit 10x more people). Costume featured a better headscarf made from a $5 fabric scarf from Wal-Mart, lighter skin and darker lipstick. Below, GaGa hangs with other female celebs: Hannah Montana and Lucile Ball.

October 31, 2009: with old friends in New Brunswick. Costume by this point lacking a belt (forgot it in Philadelphia) and proper pantyhose. Also could not find my digital camera after our party which I fortunately found tucked between my dresser and laundry bin in my room after the weekend. My friend from home Amanda was over, I have a small room, long story. The only pics I like from this night were snapped on someone’s cell phone, so I am not posting them. However, I did meet one GaGa who rivaled my own look. Meet, GUY GAGA!

Your TU Tuition: Paley's Media Center

This post is for Temple University students and people who like libraries.

This Tuesday, the main campus library at Temple University is holding a Media Center Open House. It will be held all day (9 am to 5 pm) on the ground floor, showcasing their VHS and DVD collection while providing tours, snacks and giveaways.

The library is one of the most important aspects of a University, and I'm glad to see any efforts to improve ours. It's always refreshing to check out their resources for leisure as well. Temple's libraries' holdings include 3 million volumes, 6 million photographs, more than 30,000 print and online subscriptions, 35,000 linear feet of manuscripts, and a rich collection of sound and video recordings.

That's a lot to discover, whether for class or personal use... wouldn't you rather catch up on Mad Men season 1 and 2 on DVD than research for that industry report, anyway?

Find out what the Media Center has to offer! Visit the Media Center this Tuesday September 29 and learn about one of Paley Library's newest, most exciting additions.

Being Lady GaGa

I finally decided on what to be for Halloween. Ok, the choice to be Lady GaGa was the easy part - the rising pop star of 2009 parades around in extravagant costumes on a regular basis. So the hard part was deciding which of her costumes to recreate. With about four costumes per music video, even more during live performances (recently, she changed looks four times at the MTV Video and Music Awards and twice on Saturday Night Live), and a host of unique "everyday" outfits, I finally decided to use the red outfit in her "Beautiful Dirty Rich" video.

Why? I love the song, which was released as a promotional single on September 16, 2008 but never got the radio play that Just Dance, Love Game, and Paparazzi have. The outfit won't be too labor-intensive. And I already have some banana-yellow-colored pumps.

I'm also hoping that my version of Lady GaGa won't be the most popular selection this year, so I can party with the other GaGas without feeling like a clone. If I had more time, I can think of some other great GaGa costumes for the occasion (perhaps her VMA performance of "Paparazzi" with blood dripping down her stomach, or her fantastical bubble costume that she wore during her Fame Ball tour).

At any rate, as a dedicated fan, I decided to outline below some of the basic steps you will need to recreate GaGa's signature style, whatever outfit you choose.

• If you don't have platinum blonde hair with bangs already, you'll probably want to grab a straight blonde wig. The bob cuts I found in the store were a bit too short (Lady GaGa's new 'do is more shoulder-length) so I bought a long wig for $10 and I'm planning on trimming it myself. It's also going to need a good brushing. You could play around with replicating her curly styles as well, using a Marilyn Monroe wig. Just make sure to pair it with a ridiculous outfit so you don't get your pop icons confused. If you're really daring, you could also try her afro puff look like the cover of the Rolling Stone magazine.
• Some stunna shades like the classics seen on the face of the lovely lady.
• You'll also want some black eyeliner and mascara, fake eyelashes, dramatic eyeshadow, and shimmery face powder or a cream skin brightener for that pop star glow. You may also need some cream makeup to create a lightning bolt over one eye for certain looks, and rhinestones never hurt. Check out this cute YouTube tutorial by user MichellePhan for inspiration:

• "we just like to party, like to p-p-party, yeah / bang, bang, we're beautiful and dirty rich"
  Opaque black pantyhose, or in my case, flesh-colored (it is October, after all, and Lady GaGa is infamous for her no-pants trademark).
• Fortunately, Lady GaGa keeps her kicks simple. You probably already have a pair that will do. The black bootie style is very popular this season and seen in many of her videos. Anything lace-up, patent, or otherwise embellished will do.

Have fun!

My Second Birthday

This post is for anyone who likes blog birthdays and a fair amount of self-reflection.

I'm two years old today! That's kind of a big deal in the blog world. I must be doing something right if I still have readers and haven't run out of material yet.

My first post was this one on September 24, 2007.

Year one in review (personal judgment):
Favorite stories were the Exploding Banana on October 12, 2007 and Espresso Mess-o on March 23, 2008. Best introspective moment was Culture Shock on January 22, 2008. Most interesting photos were taken on Spring Break across Europe from February 22 - March 2, 2008.
Then I turned one year old and didn't celebrate.

Year two in review (again, personal judgment):
Most useful write-up was Word Reference on October 24, 2008. Most colorful post was Deƨigual at Macy's on March 6, 2009. Favorite sarcastic post was Dishwashing Etiquette on May 13, 2009. Best introspective moment was Finally Out of North Philly on June 14, 2009.

Going into my third year, I'm going to keep this blog more down-to-earth than ever. I am developing a separate portfolio and considering starting a blog about tech-y and marketing-related subjects, or perhaps guest posting on other blogs devoted to these subjects so that this one can remain focused on My Life and the the people, places, and events that are important in it. That may mean fewer posts, but it will ensure that this space is maintained as a playground for my experiences in real life, and not just the virtual sphere.

I'd love to hear your thoughts below about what has made this blog special to you over the past two years, and what kept you reading. Were there any posts you particularly enjoyed that I didn't highlight above? As awlays, your comments and continued support are much appreciated.

Happy Birthday, Mom!

This post is for my mother, and for my best friend Kaitlyn. And anyone else who likes e-cards, birthdays, or Flash design.

Birthday shoutout to my dear mother, without whom I would not exist. Love you, mom! Here is an original e-card I designed especially for you (you might recognize the cake):

Also, happy birthday to Kaitlyn, who shares this September 5 birthday, but a few years later... ;-)

♫ New Music Tuesday: David Guetta's "One Love" Album

Read this post if you like music, especially Electronic and House genres.

"One Love" is the fourth studio album by French DJ, David Guetta. It was released on 21 August 2009 via iTunes, on 24 August throughout Europe on CD, and 25 August (today) in the United States on CD. The album includes collaborations with many of today's hottest artists, including Kelly Rowland, Kid Cudi, will.i.am, and Estelle. Following is a track listing and playlist so you can preview what will surely be all over the radio waves in the next few weeks (all links open in a new window):

[One Love Album - click to play full songs on imeem]

1. When Love Takes Over feat. Kelly Rowland [Watch] [Listen]
2. Gettin' Over feat. Chris Willis [Listen]
3. Sexy Bitch feat. Akon [Listen]
4. Memories feat. Kid Cudi [Listen]
5. Missing feat. Novel [Listen]
6. It's the Way You Love Me feat. Kelly Rowland [Listen]
7. Choose feat. Ne-Yo and Kelly Rowland [Listen]
8. On the Dancefloor feat. will.i.am and apl.de.ap [Listen]
9. I Gotta Feeling (David Guetta FMIF remix edit) [Listen]
10. One Love feat. Estelle [Listen]
11. Sound of Letting Go feat. Chris Willis [Listen]
12. I Wanna Go Crazy feat. will.i.am [Watch] [Listen]

A few of these artists were also at Beatstock 2009 two weeks ago (PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, NJ). I was there with Jess, Trish, Brian, Andrew, and Steve. We had a great time even though PNC didn't allow tailgating at this event, drinks were overpriced, and you're limited to 3. Either way, I'll be back next year because the lineup was amazing and we got discounted tickets by ordering during a no-service-fee-Wednesday. Bargain hunting!

Update - post originally published 25 August, 2009, but got a DMCA complaint because of download links. Removed them and re-published 1 September, 2009 with playlist and "watch" or "listen" links only.

Mad Men Yourself: Implications of the Swanky '60s Style Avatar Creation Site

This post is for anyone interested in Web 2.0 technology, trends in social media, graphic design, the TV series Mad Men, or marketing.

It appears I have a knack for finding new "[Insert Title Here] Yourself" services on the web. These Cartoon-Yourself, Yearbook-Yourself, Elf Yourself, and avatar generators let us show off our tweeting, friending, narcissistic selves as profile pictures without seeming the least bit vain (à la myspace). And darn they're fun to use.

The latest is AMC's "Mad Men Yourself," and this one has an interesting backstory.

In case you don't feel like reading my 20-page "Representing and Misrepresenting Yourself on Social Networks" report about online identity, a little background might help. Mad Men is a television series on AMC, now in its third season, which centers on the high-powered world of Madison Avenue advertising agencies in the 1960's. Think David Ogilvy.

The series quickly developed a following in both real and virtual settings, e.g. Twitter, because it appeals to agency/media/marketing people who also happen to be early adopters of Twitter and other social networks. A lot of these creative-types did some really neat things with the characters on the show, and AMC did some really stupid things and then took it back and a year later, wised up and created the following awesomeness, a perfect reflection of the "brand" that is Mad Men, and the "fans" such as Dyna Moe, who created the illustration for the site:

Congrats, AMC. You finally "got it," and your show is saved.

PS - Does the music remind anyone else of the old The Sims when you were in "buy" mode? Ahh elevator music. Never goes out of fashion.

PPS - Eight O'Clock Coffee gets a Brand + in my book for a perfect sponsorship deal: