Cumberland Falls =] December 10, 2009

When it gets closer to the holidays it always makes you think that the people in your life that mean the most to you. I really think that that is what the holiday season is designed to do. There is a group of people in my life that mean so much to me! I only get to see this part of my family a few times a year but when I am with them I know that no matter what happens they are always there for me. I am so thankful to have each and everyone of them in my life and I do not know what I would do without them!

For my whole life, I have gone to Cumberland Falls, KY every summer! It is the best week of the year and my whole family looks forward to it. It is kind of hard to describe to people that have never been there before. I guess it is not really the place that makes that week in July so special, it is the people that we see while we are there. It all started when my mom was my age and she went with one of her friends on her family vacation. They went to Cumberland Falls State Park in Corbin, KY. She has such a fun time that she convinced my Grandma and Grandpa to vacation there the following summer. The second summer there they ran into the Fisher family from Ohio. They hit it off right away, they had kids that were all similar ages and they all just clicked together. Our group has grown a lot since that first summer, we have added lots of new family members and it seems like every summer we grow a little more.

As you can see from the video above that I have made about our big summer family reunion that we have a blast. It is a week filled with dancing, swimming, laughing, crafts, and most of all you can just feel the love in the atmosphere that our group feels for each other.

My Auntie Linny has written some wonderful blogs about our week at Cumberland Falls. She has a way with words, here is part of her blog that really sums up what our Cumberland Falls family is all about:

"I have absolutely no blood relation to my Cumberland Falls Family--they are just a group of people who happened to vacation at the same place a very long time ago. Yes, there are some families that congregate there, but the point is that the whole group sort of just clicked and continued on coming the same week for over 30 years. It is a magical place where your salary and your job description don't mean a thing--you only gain respect for how much fun you can be. Well, and in some people's case this week (Pete), it's how much bourbon you can safely taste without throwing-up or dying.

There are no words for our CF family--it just is. It is goodness and love. It is unconditional acceptance and fun. It is being silly and sharing a laugh. It is forgetting the problems of daily life and lying in the sun discussing how tan you got today. It is fighting over who the life guard thinks is the cutest, even though he is 20 years younger than we are. It is photographing 54 of the gang in Fain's stupid cat t-shirt without her knowing. Is is laughing until you can't stand it anymore. And it is crying with everyone as you leave.

So, I'm back posting. Back with some fresh material for the blog thanks to the gang this week and I'm smiling with my heart full. I am rejuvenated and have a fresh look for the busy week ahead. Okay, so I'm gonna lose it tomorrow when the kids have to start band camp and I have to tackle 5000 loads of laundry--but I'm feeling that good-kinda-tired tonight.

I missed you all, but I miss all of them even more tonight. I just know there is a blue moon over Kentucky right now and I'm missing it. Somehow, I think we all are."

--Lin Kautz (duckandwheelwithstring.blogspot.com)

This holiday seasons brings me to missing each and everyone of them a little more! I hope they know how much they mean to me and I hope that they have an amazing holiday season!!! I cannot wait until we are all reunited this coming July in our favorite place in the world, Cumberland Falls :)

Open Heart <3 December 10, 2009

A few weeks ago I had to make my Christmas list for my family. There were lots of items that normally make the list but this year one item really stands out to me and I really hope I get one. Jane Seymour has created a new line of jewelry, her Open Heart Collection. She has designed made a heart design that does not close. She says that if your heart is open love will always find its way in! I love that saying. The design of her jewelry is simple but elegant. I think that they saying behind the necklace makes me like it more than the actual design of the necklace itself. Her open heart design has become very popular and I am sure that I will not be the only girl hoping to find one of these under the tree on Christmas morning! I guess we will just have to wait and see if Santa comes through for me ;)

PEACE =] December 10, 2009

PEACE : a state of mutual harmony between people or groups, esp. in personal relations: Try to live in peace with your neighbors. (According to dictionary.com)

I love peace signs! It is my absolute favorite symbol. You probably have noticed in class that I wear lots of shirts and accessories that have peace signs on them. I thought that seeing the design of a peace sign would be a interesting topic for me to blog about so here it goes...

According to Wikipedia: This internationally know sign was first used in the British nuclear disarmament movement. It was created on February 21, 1958 by Gerald Holtom.

This symbol of peace has been around for a very long time and still carries as much meaning today as it did back then. I think that it has become so popular recently because of the War in Iraq. I also think that people like the thought of living in peace. So much of our lives are so stressful and if we wear peace signs on our clothing and jewelry maybe it will remind us how important peace is to us!!!

Adoption =] December 10, 2009

The picture above is Chad and the picture below is Kaitlyn holding Ian!

I few weeks ago I had the opportunity to witness pure magic!!! My best friend Kaitlyn had invited me to go with her to the airport to see her new baby cousins Ian and Chad come home from Africa. Her Aunt Stori and Uncle Jamey have just adopted two little boy from Africa. In my opinion adoption is designed to give children the life that they truly deserve. It is one of the nicest things a person can do. Opening your home and family to children that need to be loved is one of the greatest acts of kindness a person can do. Being in the airport when their whole family was being united was one of the most amazing moments I have ever witnessed. Those little boys lives are going to be changed forever because of all the love that Jamey and Stori; Livia and Parker (their older children) and the rest of Kaitlyn's family will fill them with.

While we were waiting in the airport for the plane to land, they started talking about the conditions that these African children are living in and to be honest it made me want to cry. These children get one meal a day; rice or beans. They learn how to communicate at very young ages because they know that unless they make their presense known they will be ignored. They do not know the exact ages of the boys because there are no birth certificates. They think that Chad is 18 months old and Ian is 8 months old, its hard to tell because they are both really small for their ages. They were found and taken in by the orphanage that Jamey and Stori had heard of from a friend that had also adopted a little boy from. Hearing these stories and then finally seeing these little boys just warmed my heart. These children that are over there suffering did not do anything to deserve the life they have been given. Most of these children are orphaned because of their parents dying from disease.

I know that when I am older and ready to start a family I know that I want to adopt. I know that I have so much love in my heart that I would be a perfect person to adopt children like Ian and Chad. Just looking into their eyes when I saw them in the airport you could tell that they were finally happy and I think that they knew that they were home and they were finally where they were supposed to be. Jamey and Stori are amazing people with very big hearts, they both people that I look up to and hope that one day I can create that same magical feeling in someone else like they did for me!

Youtube =] December 10, 2009

One of my favorite websites is youtube. I love posting videos that I have made and looking at the other videos that people post on the website. Youtube is a website designed where people can upload and share their videos or music. The tag line that they use for advertising is You Tube: Broadcast Yourself. Youtube.com was founded in 2005 and has been thriving ever since. Youtube was created by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim. I think that one of the reasons Youtube has become so popular is because you do not have to be a member or sign up for anything to watch the videos. You can simply go to www.youtube.com and type in something that you want to watch and there you go. But for those people that want to become a member it is so easy to sign up and the best part is it is free! Youtube has become and Internet phenomenon and is continueing to grow each and everyday! I wonder what they will come up with next?!?!

Brothers and Sister =] December 9, 2009

There are many shows on TV today that try to depict "The American Family." Not all of these show are great depictions of a real family. Families are not perfect. There are always problems that we have to deal with and that is just life. Life happens and you have to deal with it, most of the time you rely on your family to help you get through the tough times and they are there to celebrate with you during the happy times. You know that your family is going to be there for you no matter what happens! One of my favorite TV families is the Walker family, from ABC's hit TV show Brothers and Sisters. There problems are real and the drama is real life issues that family's really have to deal with. There are 5 siblings in this family and they bring all sorts of drama to the dinner table. They deal with the issues of divorce, money problems, illness, work problems, drug and alcohol problems, and of course what family doesn't have sibling rivalry. No episode is perfect and none of the family members are perfect but that is why I think I like this show so much. No real life families are perfect so it is nice that the Walker's are so easy to relate to.

To join the family drama you should check out Brothers and Sisters. It airs on ABC every Sunday at 10pm =] Check it out!!!

Stuff White People Like =] December 9, 2009

In my Sociology class my teacher asked us to visit a website and let us know what we thought of it. The website is actually a blog and its called stuffwhitepeoplelike.com :) Now I know that this website sounds a little weird but it actually is very funny to read the articles. After doing a little research I have found out that it has actually been turned into a book. I think that this blog and the book are designed to poke fun at the stuff that white people buy, also some of the silly traditions that white people do for fun.

Here is what stuffwhitepeoplelike.com had to say about camping:

"If you find yourself trapped in the middle of the woods without electricity, running water, or a car you would likely describe that situation as a “nightmare” or “a worse case scenario like after plane crash or something.” White people refer to it as “camping.”

When white people begin talking to you about camping they will do their best to tell you that it’s very easy and it allows them to escape the pressures and troubles of the urban lifestyle for a more natural, simplified, relaxing time. Nothing could be further from the truth.

In theory camping should be a very inexpensive activity since you are literally sleeping on the ground. But as with everything in white culture, the more simple it appears the more expensive it actually is.

Camping is a multi-day, multi-step, potentially lethal activity that will cost you a large amount of both time and money. Unless you are in some sort of position where you absolutely need the friendship of a white person, you should avoid camping at all costs.

The first stage of camping always involves a trip to an outdoor equipment store like REI (or in Canada, Mountain Equipment Co-Op). These stores are well known for their abundance of white customers and their extensive inventory of things for white people to buy and only use once. If you are ever tricked into going to one of these stores, you can make white people like you by saying things like “man, this Kayak is only $1200, if I use it 35 times I’ve already saved money over renting.” Note: do not actually buy the kayak.

Next, white people will then take this new equipment and load it into an SUV or Subaru Outback with a Thule or Yakima Roof Rack. Then they will drive for an extended period of time to a national park or campsite where they will pay an entrance fee and begin their journey. It is worth noting that white people are unaware of the irony of using a gas burning car to bring them closer to nature and it is not recommended that you point this out. It will ruin their weekend.

Once in the camp area, white people will walk around for a while, set up a tent, have a horrible night of sleep, walk around some more. Then get in the car and go home. This, of course, is a best case scenario. Worst case scenarios include: getting lost, poisoned, killed by an animal, and encountering an RV. Of these outcomes, the latter is seen by white people as the worst since it involves an encounter with the wrong kind of white people.

Conversely, any camping trip that ends in death at the hands of nature or requires the use of valuable government resources for a rescue is seen as relatively positive in white culture. This is because both situations might eventually lead to a book deal or documentary film about the experience.

Ultimately the best way to escape a camping trip with white people is to say that you have allergies. Since white people and their children are allergic to almost everything, they will understand and ask no further questions. You should not say something like “looking at history, the instances of my people encountering white people in the woods have not worked out very well for us.”

Note: this works for all races! "

This is a very funny blog, you should really take the time to read some of their other posts!!!

My Favorite Authors =] December 9, 2009

Reading is not really my favorite thing to do. But there are a few authors that I really love their books. I think that good books are designed to be an escape from reality for readers. People sometimes need to escape from the stress of their real world and books are a great escape.

My favorite author is Stephenie Meyers. She is the author of the Twilight Series. Once you start the Twilight Series it is hard to put them down. The Twilight Series is now being made into movies which closely follow the books. And of course I am a fan of the movies too!



My next favorite author would have to be Jodi Picoult. She has created many top selling books. Her books all involve some sort of trial. I think what makes her books so appealing is that some of them seem like real life situations. Most of her books are also made into popular movies.



Nicholas Sparks is one of my favorites, I can basically get into any of his books. A lot of his books are turned into movie because they are such great stories. His most recent book that is getting ready to hit theaters is Dear John.

The Blind Side =] December 9, 2009

One of the hot new movies hitting theaters this holiday season is The Blind Side. Based on a true story The Blind Side is the story about Michael Orr.

Here is the plot of the movie according to Wikipedia:

"The Blind Side depicts the true story of Michael Oher (Quinton Aaron), a homeless 18-year-old from a broken home. He enrolls in a private Christian school and struggles to fit in because he is woefully underprepared. Eventually, he is taken in by the Tuohys (Sandra Bullock, Tim McGraw, Lily Collins, and Jae Head), a well-to-do Christian family who helps him fulfill his potential. At the same time, Oher's presence in the Tuohys' lives leads them to some self-discoveries of their own. Recognizing his potential talent as a football player, they encourage him get him private tutors and get involved in his football career. Living in his new environment, the 18-year-old faces a completely different set of challenges. As a football player and student, Oher works hard and, with the help of his coaches and adopted family, becomes an All-American offensive left tackle."

I have not seen this movie yet but it has been given really great reviews. I think that this movie is designed to make us realize that your family does not just have to be the people that share your same DNA. The Tuohy family was able to open their home and their hearts for a boy that was struggling. They are an incredible family that we could all learn a little from. There are always little ways that we can make big changes in our lives and we just need to keep our eyes open :)

Winter Weather =] December 9, 2009

This winter is going to be a little different for me. Normally I really do not like snow or cold weather but this year I am trying to enjoy this winter weather since I really will not get to see to much of it this year!!! As I have previously posted, I am moving to Florida in January and well we all no that it does not snow in Orlando... I never thought that I would say I might actually miss snow. Most of the time it is so pretty to watch but it creates a big mess when you have to travel in it. I think that this weather is designed to make us appreciate summer a little more. We have to endure these cold winter days so that in the summer we can have beautiful sunny days!!!

What are you thankful for?!?! =] November 25, 2009

On the eve of Thanksgiving, I thought I would give my opinion on what I think Thanksgiving is designed to do. I believe that Thanksgiving is designed to be a day where you recognize what and who is important in your live and let them know how much they mean to you. There are many things that I am thankful for so I thought I would make a list of the top 5 things that I am thankful for this holiday season.

1. My family and friends- They mean to world to me, without them I do not make sense. I have a very big family and tons of friends. I am so thankful to have each and everyone of them in my life.

2. My house- This year I have been volunteering at a homeless shelter and it made me realize how happy I am to have a roof over my head each day!

3. Cumberland Falls and my "Falls" family- Every year my family vacations in Cumberland Falls, KY. We meet up with families from all over and it is one of the most magical weeks ever. We have such a good time and even though I only see my "Falls Family" a couple times a year they really mean so much to me!

4. The Disney College Program- In January I am going to be moving to sunny Orlando, Florida to participate in the Disney College Program. This is going to be an amazing experience and I am so thankful that I have been given this opportunity.

5. My Puppies- Last but certainly not least I am so thankful for my three little Yorkies: Dinky, Lucy and Gracie. Dogs really are great companions and they are always there for you no matter what!

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital =] November 25, 2009

This morning I was watching the Today Show and they had a family on there that had a sever year old daughter that was fighting cancer. She has a brain tumor and is currently a patient at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. This is truly an amazing hospital that is designed to give all children the best treatment possible while fighting these horrible diseases.

According to Wikipedia, St Jude was founded by Danny Thomas in 1962 on the premise that "no child should die in the dawn of life." Families that have children with these horrible illnesses should not have to worry about how they are going to pay for the treatments that their children need to stay alive. This hospital is doing amazing work for children that so desperately need their help to win there battles against disease. I know that once I graduate from college that I want to be able to support this hospital. They are doing so much good and I would love to contribute as much as I could to the research they are doing.

"Give thanks for the healthy children in your life and give to those who are not." -St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

American Idol =] November 25, 2009

I am sure that almost everyone had heard of American Idol?!?! The show is designed to find the next singing sensation in America. The show first aired in June of 2002 and has been finding amazing talent in America ever since. It has crowned 8 contestants with the title of The American Idol but the winners of the show are not the only people gaining from the show. You do not have to be the actual winner of the show to recieve many benefits. Many of the contestants that did not actually win have signed record deals since being a contestant on the very popular reality show. Take Jennifer Hudson for example, she finished 8th in her season and now she has become a very popular singer and actress because of the show. America is full of many talented singers and this show is the only way that some of them can be discovered. I cannot wait to see who auditions for this up and coming season of American Idol. The auditions are the first few weeks of the show and sometimes they are the funniest part of the show. Some of the people who audition are not really ready for American Idol, but it is funny watching them try. I'm not sure when the next season is starting but check your local listings and make sure to check it out!!!

Law and Order SVU =] November 25, 2009

There are many crime shows on TV today. I would have to say some of the most successful law shows would have to be the Law and Order series by Dick Wolf. My personal favorite of the Law and Order series would have to be Law and Order Special Victims Unit (SVU). Law and Order SVU has been on the air since September 1999. They are currently in their 11th season. The show is designed to show what real life detectives go through on a daily basis. Their jobs are not always glamorous and the job most of the time is really dangerous. But it is a job that someone has to do and I think that Dick Wolf has done an excellent job of showing just that. The show is based in New York. The show acts out some high profile crime cases and other fictional cases. The shows leading actors are Christopher Meloni who plays detective Elliot Stabler and Mariska Hargitay who plays detective Olivia Benson. These two detectives have had many interesting cases throughout the years. Some of which have been really dangerous but most of the cases are really rewarding in the end. Crime is not pretty and the show does a great job of showing how the legal system works.

Family Traditions =] November 25, 2009

Around the holidays it seems like most family's have a certain traditions that they celebrate. My family has many holiday traditions. These traditions are designed to bring families together. Family is so important and sometimes our lives get in the way of seeing them very often. My family is full of many crazy and fun traditions that we celebrate throughout the year. Our most recent tradition that we just celebrated was Cookie Day. Every year right before Thanksgiving my family gets together and has Cookie Day at my Grandma's house. For one whole day we make tons of homemade sugar cookies for the Christmas season. My grandma makes the dough. We all take turns cutting the cookies into many holiday shapes. Then all of the cookies become our own little works of art. We decorate around 400 cookies every year. It is a great way for our family to spend time together. We give many of the cookies to our friends and neighbor. It is our little way of sending love to the people we care about during the Christmas holiday season.

Twilight Mania =] November 19, 2009

On the eve of the release of The Twilight Saga: New Moon, I thought it only fitting to do a blog on the design on The Twilight Saga. The Twilight Saga books and movie have hit the world and this movie is considered by some as the most anticipated movie of the year :) It has had the highest number of pre-sale tickets we have seen in a really long time. The sequel is supposed to gross even more than the first Twilight movie did... It is just crazy seeing how many people are in love with these books and movies.

According to www.movies.yahoo.com, "Online ticket seller Movietickets.com announced today that the second "Twilight" movie has taken the top spot on their list of the "Top 10 Advance Ticket Sellers of All-Time." It passed the record set four years ago by" Star Wars - Episode III: Revenge of the Sith." Even established franchises like "The Lord of the Rings," "Harry Potter" and "The Dark Knight" couldn't match the early sales of this highly anticipated sequel."

Twilight directors have tried really hard to stick to the original story lines of the books because they know that that is what the fans really want to see. The movies are designed to bring the books alive and they do a really good job of that. They have worked really hard to stick to the books which is the main reason I believe that they are so successful.

Twilight fans cannot wait for the arrival of this movie to hit theaters. I have had my tickets for weeks and cannot wait until tomorrow night :)

Soap Opera's =] November 19, 2009

I am sure when most people hear the words "Soap Opera" they think of a romantic show that there grandma or mom watched. I have to say that I am guilty of watching one "Soap." My favorite is Days of Our Lives. Days has been on the aired on NBC almost everyday since 1965! My grandma has watched this show since it started and got me hooked too. In the beginning when I was younger I really did not like the show. But I think I was 14 when I became hooked. Shortly after I started watching my little sisters started watching. My youngest sister Lyndsey was 9 when she started watching. Looking back on it I am not sure what my parents were thinking letting a 9 year old watching a Soap Opera but now all three of us are hooked.

Soap Operas are romantic dramas that were started as radio shows in the 50's. They have story lines that you would not believe. Baby drama, murders, major family issues and of course love stories. Most soaps are on daily, I know that Days of Our Lives is at least. I am not really sure why soaps are so addicting but they are. I think that they are designed to make people forget their actual real life problems and they enter all of these story lines that can be so tragic. They are peoples daily escape from real life. At least this is what I tell myself that they were designed to do, everyday I get to leave my world and enter the town of Salem with all my friends from the Days of Our Lives cast. If you want to see what I'm talking about try watching Days one day, its on NBC weekdays at one :) You might surprise yourself and fall in love with all of the drama too!

Taylor Swift host Saturday Night Live =] November 19, 2009

I think that most people have heard of Saturday Night Live... The show is on late every Saturday night! It is designed to be a comedic variety show. Every week they have a different celebrity host and that is how the show changes from week to week. The host brings their talents and shares them with the audience.

According to Wikipedia, SNL made its debut on debut on October 11, 1975, under the title NBC Saturday Night. It was changed to Saturday Night Live on in 1980. There have been many different people host the show which adds a lot because everyweek the host is going to bring something new to the original cast. If you have never watched the show I would really suggest staying up a little later this Saturday, you will definitly get a good laugh from the show!!!

Taylor Swift hosted SNL two weeks ago and it was so funny :) The clip above was a part of one of the skits she was in. Taylor Swift obviously is a musician so some of her skits involved her singing. But most of her skits were just her acting which she did a really good job at. She was extremely funny! Go to nbc.com to check out more of Taylor's funny skits from her night of hosting Saturday Night Live.

Digital Scrapbooking!!! November 18, 2009

I don't know if there are any scrapbook makers out there but if you are you might want to consider starting a digital scrapbook. I have never had the time to start a scrapbook but some people in my family make lots of scrapbooks. They are amazing to look at once they are complete but they are very time consuming. Digital scrapbooking is pretty new but of course everything in the future is going digital. I think that it is sort of like a blog only you make it more personal and you add way more pictures than you do to a blog. There are many websites out there that support digital scrapbooking. It is fast and it doesn't cost as much as purchasing the supplies to make a normal scrapbook. Everything is done online. You pick out your layout, descriptions and you add all of your own digital pictures. Most of the websites out there have a feature that allows you to print these scrapbooks once you are finished. It is pretty cool and I could see how this will really catch on and probably normal scrapbooking will disapear and everything will be done digital.

Touch Screen Vending Machines =] November 18, 2009

We are becoming the masters of touch screen devices! We have touch screen phones, MP3 players, computers, cameras, and now VENDING MACHINES!!! According to psfk.com these vending machines will be in the hitting the Simon Malls sometime in 2010. Most of these vending machines will have WiFi inside them so that they can notify the owner when they are running low on supplies. Also these machines have built in cameras so that you can not try to shake out any items. We are going to be a world of everything touch screen... What will they think of next??

Cake Boss =] November 17, 2009

If you have been following my blog you know that I am a sucker for reality TV. One of my new favorite reality TV shows would have to be Cake Boss on TLC. Cake Boss first aired last April and has become a very popular show on TLC. Cake Boss is about the Valastro family bakery in Huboken, New Jersey. The cakes they make are truly amazing! I have never seen such amazing designs in cakes before. They are all designed a little different and really are all edible works of art. Their clients come in to their bakery and know that they can tell them exactly what kind of cake they want and the Valastro family will deliver. They design everything from birthday cakes to wedding cakes. The show is a hit, this family is full of many characters. You get to see there works of art and also you get a good laugh! You should check out this really cool show and see his designs unfold on TLC every Monday night.

Wii Fit =] November 17, 2009

I am sure that most of you know what a Wii is... But for those of you that have never heard of one of these gaming systems I will fill you in on a little Wii history...

The Nintendo Wii was released to the general public on November 19, 2006. It was the new way to game. It was an instant hit in the gaming world. It was so popular and Wii was sold out for a long time. They only released 1.8 million Wii's per month. Stores were not able to keep these systems on the shelves.

Personally I am not a gamer but I enjoy playing some games on Wii. I personally do not have a Wii but my cousins do. They also own the Wii Fit. Wii Fit is a great game that is a great way to stay in shape. It is the one time that you can actually say that you are working out while playing a video game. According to Wikipedia, Wii Fit is the second best selling video game in history! That says something about what the American public is looking for in gaming today. Owning a gym membership can get pricey. When you have a Wii Fit your living room can become you gym. You are playing a game and getting a workout all at the same time! It is amazing to see where the Wii has taken gaming and it will be interesting to see where it is headed in the future!

CMA Awards =] November 11, 2009

The CMA's are a night to honor country music's best musicians. The award show was started 43 years ago and is still a night that many country music lovers get very excited about. It is designed to award the country stars for all of their hard work throughout the year. We all vote for who we think is most deserving for the different awards. It is a night of stars, amazing performances and lots & lots of awards. Awards are given for album of the year, best female and male vocalist, entertainer of the year and many many more. We do not always think about how much work and time many country artist spend on writing and recording songs. Also they are always traveling for performances and going on tour. Its not an easy job and it is nice that we take time and stop and thank them for all the music they give us that we listen to each and every day. Congratulations to all of the winners at tonight awards =]

Role Models =] November 11, 2009

What is a role model? What is the typical design of a role model?
According to definition.com:

role model

–noun
a person whose behavior, example, or success is or can be emulated by others, esp. by younger people.

I think that role models were designed to congratulate people who are great examples of people that shine. I have many role models that I look up to everyday. One of my biggest role models is actually someone that is my age. She is a rising star that is a great person for all women to look up too.

Country music star Taylor Swift is my role model. She is an amazing woman that has not let her fame and popularity go to her head. Her success is something that all young women should look to and be proud of. Sometimes Hollywood and fame changes young stars but not Taylor. Taylor Swift has had an amazing year. This year she has been on the road for her first headlining tour! I was so excited to be able to go to her concert when she stopped in Indianapolis on October 8th. Tonight is a special night for Taylor. Tonight is the CMA Awards. Taylor is up for Entertainer of the YEAR =] She is the youngest person ever even nominated for this high award. I really am keeping my fingers crossed that Taylor wins this award. She is a role model for so many young women and it would be great for her to be rewarded for all of her hard work!

Thank you so much Taylor for being true to yourself and not changing for anyone. You make other girls realize that they do not have to change for anyone and that you should always be yourself!

I'm wishing my Role Model Taylor Swift GOOD LUCK tonight at the CMA's <3>

Walt Disney World College Program =] November 11, 2009

I have recently been accepted to the Disney College Program. The program is designed for college students to move to Orlando, work and learn as much as they can about The Walt Disney Company and gain amazing experience to put on a resume. I am really excited about this amazing opportunity. I really do not know what exactly I want to do when I graduate and I am hoping that this program will point me in the direction that I am supposed to go!

For people that are thinking about doing the program you first have a few decisions you have to make. First decision would have to be are you willing to take a semester off of school. If you answer yes to this question then the Disney College Program might be some thing you should do. If you are thinking you could see yourself becoming apart of the Disney Cast the college program is a great way to get your foot in the door with the company. Okay next decision would have to be what season do you want to apply for either fall, spring or summer. I am doing the Spring Program so I will be living in Orlando starting in January and my program will be finished at the end of May. After completion of the program you are offered many opportunities if you can prove yourself to be a hard worker.

I am very excited about my Disney venture. I am sure that once I have completed the program I will be able to better describe what exactly happens during the college program. I will be happy to share any of my experiences. I hope that this is my start to finding my way. I believe that this program is designed to help many college students to realize whatever you put your mind to you can accomplish and dreams really do come true!!!

BLACK FRIDAY SHOPPING =] November 9, 2009

I'm not sure how many bargain shoppers are out there but I know that I am one of them. One of my weaknesses is shopping, but when I am able to justify it by items being on sale I think that it is okay. For many bargain hunters out there Black Friday is a shopping day many of them live for. It is designed to get many people out in the malls and other stores to get good deals for their holiday shopping. While it is not an official holiday I am sure many shopping lovers consider Black Friday a holiday =]

According to Wikipedia, Black Friday is the Friday after Thanksgiving in the United States, which is the beginning of the traditional Christmas shopping season. The term Black Friday has been used since the 60's. Many stores have tons of sales just for Black Friday to get more shoppers to visit their store. Most stores even have longer hours on Black Friday to allow for more shopping.

Some say it is the busiest shopping day of the year. The times that I have been shopping on Black Friday I would have to say I agree. If you do not mind waiting in line for those bargains that Black Friday is a good day for you to go get your holiday shopping done. The earlier you get out the better because most of the really good deals end around noon.

If you are going out this year on Black Friday I wish you Happy Shopping =] I will probably be out fighting the crowds to get the best deals that day too!!!

Stand UP to Cancer =] November 9, 2009

Do you know someone with cancer? Does someone in your family have cancer? Many Americans can answer yes to both of these questions. Cancer is an awful disease that effects many families every year. The Stand Up To Cancer organization was created last year by the Entertainment Industry Foundation. It was a telethon that aired on September 5, 2008. It was a night where many Hollywood stars came out to show there support of people and families effected by cancer. It was a night to raise money to find a cure and after the special aired over $100 million was donated to the organization to go to research. Stand Up To Cancer was designed to bring awareness to all people that we are connected to cancer in some way and that we need to do our part in finding a CURE.

Here is Stand Up To Cancer's Manifesto:

This is where the end of cancer begins.
When together we become a force unmistakable.
A movement undeniable.
A light that cannot dim.
When we take our wild impossible dreams
And make them possible
Make them true
When together we rise as one
When we stand up
When we Stand Up To Cancer.

According to the American Cancer Society's website, over 562,340 American are expected to lose there battle to this horrible disease in 2009 alone. Cancer is a horrible disease that effects the lives of many American families each year. The goal is to find a cure, but that of course like everything else in life requires money. Stand Up To Cancer is a wonderful organization to find a cure. One day we will find a cure and part of it will be because of all the research that SU2C has been able to provide.

For more information visit their website: http://www.standup2cancer.org/

MUSIC VIDEOS =] November 3, 2009

Some music videos will be remembered forever, it all depends on the design of the video. A music video is supposed to visual show the song that it is for. I would have to say that Thriller is one of the greatest musical videos of all times. It has a very unique design. It is a very long music video. Most average songs are between 3 and 4 minutes so most music video are about that same length. Even though Thriller was made back in the 80's it is still being recognized today. Michael Jackson was one of the most talented musician ever. You don't just get named The King of Pop for no reason =]

Too prove that Thriller is still loved by people today, I wanted to share this website!!!
Its called thrilltheworld.com. According to there website, "Thrill The World is a worldwide attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the Largest Simultaneous Dance with Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.” Thousands of people in cities around the world will learn the “Thriller”, dance and perform it together on the day that Thrill the World takes place."

As you can see the design of a music video determines it it will be remembered forever or forgotten by tomorrow. Michael Jackson was a very talented designer of music and dance. You can see and here this in his work that is still alive in many people today =]

WALT DISNEY WORLD =] November 3, 2009

Have you ever visited Walt Disney World before???
If you have never been to a Disney Park before... You definitely need to go!!!
The parks are designed for people of all ages =]
You can feel the magic right when you step onto Disney property.
I believe that the parks are designed to bring families together.
When you enter you leave all the problems of your real life and you enter this magical place where it doesn't matter you age. This place brings out the child in everyone. You can expect that when your family enters Disney World you know that you will have a good time!

In January I am getting an amazing opportunity with The Walt Disney Company! I was recently accepted into the The Disney College Program. The Program is designed to be a great resume builder for college-aged people. Also it is a great way to get you foot-in-the-door with Disney. I am very excited for the opportunity to work and learn how Disney does it. It did not just become The Happiest Place on Earth for no reason. Disney has done many things right, they are a role model for many of today's major companies. I am so honored to have this opportunity. When I come home I know that I will have learned so many life lessons that I cannot experience at IUPUI.

The Fun Theory =] October 27, 2009

I loved the video that was shown in lab last week about The Fun Theory! I love love love it! So I decided to look them up and see what else they have done. According to thefuntheory.com, "This site is dedicated to the thought that something as simple as fun is the easiest way to change people’s behaviour for the better. Be it for yourself, for the environment, or for something entirely different, the only thing that matters is that it’s change for the better." Why can't more organizations have this same design principle "change for the better." If we made more little, fun changes like The Fun Theory, we could make the world a better place. If everyday we thought of something we could do or say to make our lives better just think of how happy we could be or how happy we could make someone else. I really think they are setting a good example for everyone. We all need to have the motto "change for the better."
Here are some more videos of what The Fun Theory is all about. Enjoy!

The Biggest Loser =] October 27, 2009

I am a sucker for reality TV and one of my favorites is The Biggest Loser! It is designed to change the lives of overweight people. Many of the people that are contestants on the show have a lot of issues that they bring with them on the show. Most of the personal baggage they bring has a lot to do with the reasons they are overweight. All of the contestants have to face their issues head on. The trainers try to help them confront the real reason they are overweight. They feel that their success of keeping the weight off is in finding the answers to their person problems.
Obesity is a major problem in The United States. According to USA Today almost 65% of Americans are either overweight or obese. We need to change this. What I like most about The Biggest Loser is that they show how people lose weight the healthy way, not the surgical way. The contestants on the show work out a lot, but they are also taught how to make healthy meals and are taught portion control which is huge in staying healthy. Staying healthy is there main message and that is what is most important. The way this show is designed is great. It is a teaching show that we can all learn from. Maybe if more people watched this we could lower the number of people that are obese in America!

THIS IS IT =] October 21, 2009

I am a Michael Jackson fan so I am really excited about This Is It!!!! It is a movie that has a lot of the footage from the practice of the This Is It tour... No matter what your personal opinions are of Michael Jackson are you must respect how musically talented he really was. He was a talented singer and dancer. He had a gift and it is really sad that he did not get to complete this last tour, the main reason that he was doing this tour was for his children, he wanted them to see what he did and why he was so famous. They are now old enough to appreciate it and it is so sad that they will never get to see his gift live.

The main reason I am writing this blog is to talk about how the design of the movie trailer can determine if someone wants to go and see that movie. If you are advertising a funny movie the trailer should make you laugh. And if it doesn't then you probably should not go see that movie. I think that the This Is It trailer does a good job of showing what a good trailer should look like. It has great clips from the practices and it just leaves you wanting to see more and hear more. Now if you are not a Michael Jackson fan this trailer is probably not appealing to you. But I think that the design of the trailer could make it or break it for the success of the movie. I think the This Is It trailer has a great design and it really sells the movie. I cannot wait to see it!!!!

HALLOWEEN =] October 21, 2009

Halloween is a very creative holiday! You can be as creative as you want when thinking of designing a costume to designing a jack-o-lantern! I found these pictures on Google and I think they are so cute. I love carving pumpkins! It is so much fun you get to decide how to design the jack-o-lanterns eyes, nose, and mouth. You can be as creative or traditional as you want to be. I would have to say that I am not very into costume shopping but you can be as creative as you want to be in either buying a costume or making a costume. I absolutely love the costume the people in the picture above designed. How creative? I would have never thought of dressing up like the iPOD advertisments =] It might not be the most comfortable standing still in those positions for a long time but it is a great design!!!

Smart Cars??? October 21, 2009

We keep seeing more and more new products with the Go Green thought in mind. And I have been seeing more and more of these smart cars out on the road. I really cannot believe the small design of them. They would probably a great little car to run around in but I do not think I would want to take this little car out on the highway... Now don't get me wrong, I am all for Going Green and pollution from cars is a great place to start but I do not know if I could seriously drive one of these cars... To start look at how tiny they are. How could you even get comfortable in a tiny little car like that? I am sure that they get great gas mileage but I just don't know if I could do it... What if you got into an accident. Would you even survive? I totally love how we are trying to be smart and we are starting to think about our planet but I think that this might be taking it too far...

What do you think?

Twitter vs. Facebook =] October 21, 2009

Most of us are guilty to belonging to one or maybe both of these social networks. I know that I am. I have belong to facebook, myspace, and most recently twitter. I think that they are a great way to keep in touch with friends and family that you do not get to see very often. All three of these sites are great way to share pictures, videos, links, and much much more! I know, I am starting to sound like I am trying to advertise for them but I'm not. The main reason I wanted to bring them up is because I want to know what you believe the main differences are in these social networking sites? What makes one better than the others?

The first account I had was for myspace but it seems like not that many people use myspace anymore. The next social network I joined was facebook. I would have to say that facebook is my favorite and the one I log into the most but honestly I could not tell you why I like it more that the others. Most recently I joined Twitter. I am not as obsessed with Twitter like I am on facebook but I would probably say that I log on there at least twice a week.

I have heard many complaints from my friends on why they do not like Twitter and have not joined. They say things like there is no point to it. All you can do is update your status so it is creepy because it just seems like you are stalking someone. But really the more that I use twitter the more I seem to like it. Now yes it is not exactly like facebook but it can't be because no one would want to join a social network that was exactly like one they already have. But you can add pictures and videos on twitter too. Now it is not exactly the same but I think that is the point...

I am just waiting to see what social network they design next... I am sure in a few years we will look at facebook and twitter with disgust. We will have a social network that is even more high tech and amazing.

Microsoft Surface! September 30, 2009

I love looking at future technology. I think it is so exciting to look at where we are headed. The Microsoft Surface is a pretty interesting new product. It is like a huge touchscreen table that can do lots of stuff a normal computer cannot do. It is amazing to think that someday soon these technologies will not just be a dream, but a reality. They will become the new normal, everyday kind of technology that we interact with on a daily basis. It will be fun to see what the other company's will come up with to compete with the design of Microsoft Surface. And I wonder how long it will take for these technologies to become available to the general public. They are going to have to come down on the price before an "average Joe" can buy one of these new computers. Right now they are selling for $12,500.

NEW Fashion Trends in a Recession!! September 23, 2009

Over the weekend my grandma bought me my first fashion scarf.  These scarfs are the cheap way to get a new look this season when money is tight.  I think that it is an excellent idea because you can create a totally different look or design for yourself with little money.  You take an outfit that you bought last fall, this season you add a scarf and  there you go... you have an outfit that looks brand new and all you did was put a scarf around your neck that could be as cheap as $7.  Now if you buy the fashion scarfs at a store like Macy's you will pay probably around $25 but you can find them much cheaper at Target and Walmart.  Whoever thought of this was very smart because with the way the market is people are not going to be going out and spending their money the way we use too.  But when you are thinking of ways to create/design new outfits with thing you already have at home these scarfs are the cheap and fashionable way to go!  Why didn't they think of this fashion design idea sooner :) 

  

Cute or Ugly?? September 23, 2009

What is in this fall season?? Moccasins :) Now personally I think that these shoes are adorable and practical.  I think that they would be really comfortable and totally worth buying.  I was shopping a few weeks ago with one of my friends and I told her that I wanted a pair of these shoes.  She laughed at me and told me they were really ugly.  Of course I did not agree with her and still don't agree with her.  I really am going to get these shoes sometime soon!! Anyways but this made me think... What makes something ugly or cute? Like who gets to decide.  Now obviously we all can have our own personal opinion about certain shoes or other articles of clothing.  But who decides what clothes are in this season and what is so last season?  Why do we follow these rules? It is really interesting to me because we are all guilty of following these fashion rules!

The BEAN :) September 23, 2009

I am sure that many people have been to Chicago before.  I know that I have visited Chicago many times.  Well we have friends that live really close to the city so this summer my family took a little road trip/weekend get-away to go and see them.  Now visiting a city and living in a city are obviously very different.  We new that by have our friends show us the city we were going to get a different look at the city on this trip.  Now I had never been to Millennium Park before but our friends had told us this was a part of Chicago that you needed to see.  In the middle of this park there is a giant silver bean.  It is so awesome.  It is so big, I was so confused as to why no one had ever told us about this park in Chicago before.  The bean has a very interesting design.  It  is in the shape of a huge bean, and it is made out of stainless steel so it is like one giant mirror.  It is a great tourist spot and because of its interesting design it is really fun to take pictures of!!  Next time you are in Chicago it would be worth the stop to check out Millennium Park!  The Chicago Bean has to make it on your list of sites to see :)

Facebook!

Who doesn't have a facebook??? That would be an easier question to answer rather than trying to figure out all of the people that have one!  I think that facebook is a very neat social network that connects people to one another.  With its design you can send messages to all of your friends and view pictures that your friends post.  It connects everyone from high school friends that have not seen each other in a long time or even connects friends or family who live far apart from one another.  It is a great way to keep in contact with people especially since our daily lives are so busy and fast paced..  We normally do not have the time to call all of our friends to check and see how they are so we just get on facebook and with a few clicks of a mouse we can check up on all of our friends really fast.  I think that facebook is a really neat tool that everyone can use to network with other people!   

Fearless! September 16, 2009

I am a huge Taylor Swift fan! She is a truly talented musician and even though we are the same age I really look up to her!  Her newest album is called "Fearless."  The picture above is her album cover.  I love the design of this album cover! I think that it is really cool and really show a lot about Taylor Swift.  Almost all Taylor fans love her hair!!  People say they want Taylor curls!  I think that this album really shows the true Taylor.  She is the kind of person that is not going to let public opinion change her.  She is going to stay true to herself no matter what.  She is a star that Hollywood has not changed... from the start of her public music career to now I do not think her attitude has changed at all, which is pretty amazing.  Just look at all the celebrities that Hollywood has ruined... It is very sad when this happens but I am glad that some of them do not let that fame go to there heads.  And in my opinion Taylor is a perfect example of just that!  :) 

Also... just wanted to add the clip of how rude Kanye West was to Taylor Swift at the VMA's.  I was so shocked that he did this to her...  She did not deserve to be treated like that!  But I was so thankful in the end that Beyonce let Taylor come back on stage and say her thank you speech.  Both of them deserved to win those awards!!!