Twitter Find: ABC’s of Blogging

As an avid Twitter follower, (@kristinandrews) I often come across great tweets by others. I follow a lot of designers so that I can build a network of design professionals like me. It’s a great resource for inspiration and to keep up on the latest in the web design industry.

Aussie creative guru Jacob Cass wrote a great blog post on “giving your blog the edge.” He provides 7 helpful hints on how to up your blog’s presence on the web. I like to call this the ABC’s of blogging. Here’s a condensed version of “7 Secrets You MUST Know to Give Your Blog The Edge”:

1. Formatting Text. Kind of like what I’m doing with breaking up the paragraphs and listing items in number format for readability.
2. Recap in first 2 sentences. Your reader wants to know what the post is about right away.
3. Use Images. Pictures speak a thousand words. People, including myself, like visualizing what the reader is saying.
4. Devote time. I’m guilty of not following this one like I should. Craft your blog post with resources for the reader.
5. Interactivity. Present the reader with events, competitions, and other things he or she can partake in.
6. Network. Get connected with others like you and have a link to one another.
7. Commenting. Respond to people who have taken the time to spill their thoughts.

Movies: Zack and Miri Make a Porno

Zack and Miri Make a Porno

Last night Marcus and I went with one of his coworkers to see an evening showing of “Zack and Miri Make a Porno.” We walked in and saw a bunch of high-schoolers sitting on the ground waiting for a movie. Then, it hit me that “Twilight” with Robert Pattinson was premiering at midnight. Somehow there is a huge craze with this movie, and I have no idea why. Feel free to enlighten me.

Back to our movie. Usually I go into a movie not knowing much, so last night was nothing different. With an R-rating, I kind of assumed that there would be some nudity and other vulgarities. Throughout the movie more and more scenes started to resonate that of “Knocked Up.” I don’t want to spoil the movie, but I will say that there was one scene in particular that gave it that “wow-that-was-gross-and-weird-but-hilarious” factor like the crowning of the baby’s head in “Knocked Up.”

After the movie, I told Marcus that it was slightly awkward sitting there watching a semi-porno. I don’t know why, because I’m usually free spirited and don’t usually get bothered by sex. We laughed it off and he apologized.

Clever Burger King Marketing Ploy

I just found an article on digg.com about Burger King’s new marketing strategy, which I must agree is very smart. Imagine losing your wallet on the street. Does someone:

A) Pick it up and keep it

B) Pick it up and track down the owner

C) Leave it

I would like to think that this particular person would choose option B, at least I would. Recently, Burger King decided to capitalize on this. Burger King created wallets with the Burger King’s ID, Burger King cash, and gift cards.

They “dropped” them in several metropolitan areas in the U.S. to be eventually discovered by unsuspecting people. Dozens of people stumbled upon these wallets and I assume proceeded to the nearest Burger King for their reward.

Props to the BK advertising department. This was a refreshing way to get a message across, while enticing consumers to stop by the nearest restaurant. I have to admit that this has me craving Burger King now.

Relationships: How do you show your love?

With our one year anniversary coming up, I’ve been thinking a lot. For those who don’t know, Marcus and I have been dating since December 2007. I couldn’t ask for more in a sweet, devoted, and handsome gentleman. He makes me feel even more beautiful than I already feel. He listens to all the good and bad things that I tell him. He supports me in all of my activities; such as book club, volunteering, web design, scrapbooking, and my obsession with Jon & Kate + 8.

The two of us are very giving people, which can pose problems at time. We are so concentrated on making the other person feel “whole.” You could say “whole” represents who we are, what we like, and what we don’t like. It’s a sense of respect, I suppose. What I’m getting at is this morning I woke up feeling the urge to do something nice for Marcus. It got me thinking about ways I show my love. I also started wondering about how others show their love to the important people in their lives.

Sure, physical affection is a great way to show love, but it doesn’t quite capture the essence of love. Love to me is respect, appreciation, loyalty, attraction, and being open encapsulated in one. At the root of this is communication. Communication is so critical in our relationships. Not only do our love lives rely on open communication, but so do all other aspects of our lives.

But, back to what got me writing this post in the first place. The ways I show my love to Marcus:

• Cooking romantic dinners at home
• Picking up things at the grocery store that he would like
• My gentle touch
• Head, back, and foot massages
• Listening
• Kisses on his back during the middle off the night
• Silence with eye contact
• The sign-language “I love you”

Feeling fit at the gym

Lifetime Fitness

Off to my 4th workout of the week. This week Marcus and I joined a gym: Liftetime Fitness. It is an amazing facility; the cardio room is FILLED with rows and rows of machinery. It’s such a breath air from my gym at college, which felt so cramped and always seemed to have a wait anytime you wanted to use the equipment.

I’ve been trying to do a variety of workouts, so like Marcus said, “Don’t let your body get used to any one workout.” I’m working on toning my triceps, abs, and legs. I’m not looking to lose weight. I just want to firm up like I used to be four years ago. However, I have a feeling I’m going to have to get used to my evolving body, as it’s a part of life. le sigh…

Also, I wouldn’t mind joining a group fitness class. I think I would like pilates for an overall toning workout. Any others out there that you would recommend?

Wishlist for a rainy day :)

It can’t hurt to dream, right? 🙂

• The Body Shop: Persimmon Spice Home Fragrance Oil
• The Spoon Sisters: Cell Phone Bean Bag Chair
• The Spoon Sisters: Jogging Zipper Wallet
• CakeLove: Toffee Crunch Layer Cake
• IKEA: Large black-rimmed photo frames for a wall collage
• Love Actually
• Laptop lap desk
• iPod arm band
• Pedicure tool set *Added 11/19/08*
• J.Lo. Deseo *Added 12/07/08*

List will be modified as times goes on… you could say this is for my own personal reference, so that on a rainy day, I can grab and go from my wishlist!

Bad Ass Army Chick

As I was perusing photos for the Army.mil Images redesign, I found this kick ass photo of a woman serving in the U.S. Army.

new jersey, originally uploaded by Army.mil.

Holiday Gift Ideas

With the holidays approaching, I’m sure you’ve been thinking about what to get your family and friends. Usually I’ll brainstorm on my drive to and from work only to forget what I thought about once I reach paper and pen. Thanks to blogging, I can use this as a way to track cool gift ideas I’ve come across:

• MoMA cutting board (it folds into three to make it easy to put chopped food into a pot)

MoMA Cutting Board

• Bean bag cell phone chair (cute way to keep your phone near by on your desk at work)

Bean Bag Cell Phone Chair

• Mobi designer sandwich bags by Todd Oldham (kind of extreme in my opinion)

Mobi Designer Sandwich Bag

• Fingerfood party plate (clever way to carry a glass of wine and appetizer in one hand)

FINGERFOOD Party Plate

• Thumb Thing (ideal for reading with one hand)

Thumb Thing

• BIG Sound Speakers for your iPod (I love miniature and gigantic versions of the real thing)

BIG Sound Speakers

• Wacky Websites desk calendar

Wacky Websites Desk Calendar

Looking back at that list, it resonates with my “gifts should be practical” philosophy. Now, if you’re like me where you’re looking for low-budget gift ideas, here are some homemade food ideas I’ve come up with:

• Cookie swap with coworkers
• Pretzel wafers with melted hershey kisses topped with an M&M (great sweet & salty combination)
• Mini tinfoil bread pans filled with homemade sweets
• Pretzel nuggets w/ dry ranch dressing pack

First woman four-star general to lead major Army Command

This is HUGE ya’ll:

FORT BELVOIR, Va. (AMC News Service, Nov. 7, 2008) – Lt. Gen. (promotable) Ann E. Dunwoody will assume command of the U.S. Army Materiel Command from outgoing commander, Gen. Benjamin S. Griffin in a ceremony at the AMC headquarters parade field here Nov. 14 at 2 p.m.

read more | digg story

*UPDATE*

CNN.com’s story is using the photos I scanned for the Army’s site haha:

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/11/14/woman.4.star.general/index.html?iref=mpstoryview

Work Life: Cleaning People & Security Guards

A mini-rant. I was always under the impression that cleaning people are to do their job after-hours; after the employees go home. I know this is random, but I find it very distracting when a vacuum cleaner goes off by  my desk for thirty minutes during the work day. Now, don’t get me wrong. I very much appreciate the cleaning people and the grunt work that they do. All I’m saying is that I would prefer it if they did their work at night time in our office. Perhaps this sentiment is paired with how unfriendly some of them seem to be. I always smile when I see them, but they tend to just stare with a blank face.

On the other hand, our security guards are uber friendly. I always look forward to seeing them, especially the one guy who always playfully asks me, “What’s in the bag?” whenever I bring in a treat for my coworkers. I’ve already started thinking about what I’m going to do for them for Christmas. Probably little food goodie bags. What’s sad is that I don’t know their names. Note to self: work on learning their names.

I believe in karma wholeheartedly. I try my hardest to always be nice to people, regardless of who they are: skin color, profession, oddities. I will continue to be and won’t let a blank stare of, “Why is she smiling at me?” stop me.