My Top 5 Guilty Pleasures of 2010

We all do a lot of things that we do not want other people to know about. So I have compiled a list that is just embarrassing enough to reveal what I do when no one else is looking. 

1. Facebook Stalking
2. Late night McDonald's or Taco-Bell
3. Watching the Victoria Secret Fashion show over and over again
4. Listening to songs sung by celebrities who make singles like Paris Hilton or Carmelo Anthony
5. Watching the Disney Channel and being over the age of 21

Top Ten Guilty Pleasures for College Students

My Children Will Do It Differentley

Although I am thankful for everything that has happened to me in my life thus far, I think I would tell my kids to do a few things differently.

 1. Do NOT listen to everything your parent's tell you. I know that I am still young, but sometimes you just have break the rules. Learning the hard way is a great way experience things in your life. Just make sure that they aren't that life altering though.

2. Even though high school may seem like one of the most important times in your life, when you get older most of those people will not matter. The popular kids usually burn out and become nobodies, while the nerds end up being the successful ones.

3. If you want to learn something, actually do it. Don't just read about it. For example, if you want to be fluent in a language you need to actually practice speaking the language, maybe go abroad? Do not just take Spanish classes throughout school where the only people you talk to are other non native speaking Americans.

4. When deciding on colleges, look as far away as possible (if you are able to). Going to the large state school with everyone who went to high school with you will never let you break out of your hometown bubble. Going out of state for school let's you meet different types of people and experience more.

5. Finally, never hesitate to ask or tell your parents something that you think may get you in trouble or be stupid. Although parents can be scary- they brought you into the world so ultimately they want to help you succeed in it as well.

All I Want For Christmas

Being the busiest time of the year, I still somehow found myself in the Apple Store on Black Friday. But I just could not resist. I wanted to get a better look at the iPad. From the moment my Dad brought his new iPad home from work I knew I was in love and needed to get one!

Although I probably do not need it because I  already have an apple iPhone and apple laptop, the iPad just entices me. Although it is a commercial seen by so many. I have become infatuated with the Apple commercial for the iPad. Created by TBWA/Media Arts Lab, the ad grabs my attention even if the TV is just on for background noise. I hear the distinct music chime in and then I immediately want to watch whatever is going on. Not only does this commerical entice me, but it actually shows me what the product does. By showing an array of apps that iPad has I can justify in my head that I would use those if I were to have an iPad myself. So many commercials today may show features and styles of a product, but this commercial shows how versatile the apps are for anyone. From a 15 yr old teeny bopper who wants to browse Perez Hilton to a 80 yr old grandmother who wants to read books, they can both be iPad users. This is definitely a product everyone needs, including me.

Apple iPad Commercial

What Talk Show Hosts Should Not Make Public

Even though talk show hosts talks about anything and everything, I do not think it is appropriate for a talk show host to give birth on camera and make a film about it. I am in a class this semester called "Gender and Sex Roles" and in this class we recently watched a film that was all about Ricki Lake giving birth. It is called The Business of Being Born.

Although she wanted to reveal how much better childbirth is at home as oppose to a hospital, it was just to much to show on TV. Lake even admitted that she knew that none of it would be flattering, it seems like it was just a publicity stunt to gain the attention of viewers that would hopefully attract viewers to her show. Unfortunately, I think that this grossed most people out.

YouTube Trailer: The Business of Being Born

Gypsies in America

After being in Europe all of last fall, I became so annoyed at the beggars on streets, also known as gypsies. They pick pocketed, lied, and begged to anyone who passed by them. You literally had to have your personal belongings as close to your body as possible at all times or they would maneuver a way to steal something. I think that because I had such bad experiences with the gypsies in Europe that this has made me paranoid towards any other people in America who we would consider beggars, usually homeless people. It is not that I do not feel bad for them, nor want to help them, it is just that who knows what anyone is capable of?

Just the other day I was sitting in my own home and man rang my doorbell. He was dressed appropriately and did not look like anyone who I would think to be a beggar. But as soon as he started speaking he began asking me for money. Although America may not have gypsies to the same extent that they do in Europe, it scares me that someone came to my door and actually asked me for money. I hope in the near Holiday's that people can find help from appropriate places.

How to Help in the Holiday Season

Memorable Words.

After taking numerous classes in advertising it is a given that I have looked at hundreds of advertisements. Although I forget most of them, there are a few that will always stay with me. I do not know if it is because I like these ads in particular or if they were just memorable to me.

I think any ad that makes you look twice or do a double take has achieved it's purpose. For example, this 3M interactive ad with the money in it is something that someone would definitely look twice at if they were walking by. It is unusual and out of place. Although the composition would make me do a double take, I probably would not remember what the ad was for, nor even consider using the product advertised.

Another ad I will always remember is one that was made to sell many a few brands. This billboard Incorporated Ikea furniture with an Absolut Vodka slogan in the shape of the liquor bottle. This advertisement is an attention grabber and was photographed by many who passed by until it was taken down. But, unfortunately this would not provoke me to buy Ikea furniture, nor Absolut Vodka.

I guess if advertisers can grab the attention of viewers then they have done part of their job. Because of memorable ads like these (well maybe not in the case of 3M) I will remember these brands. And if I was in the market to buy a product that each of these brands sold, I would automatically recognize the name, and thus be more likely to buy it. In both of these cases these ads did not stay up for very long because of the mediums used. Even more evidence to prove these ads as mere attention getter's. And ultimately, I think it worked.

Reality TV Stars- X2

Although I am an avid TV watcher, my favorite ones are reality TV shows. In particular Bravo shows, especially Top Chef. I find it to be a little bit more educational than the Kardashians. This new season of Top Chef is an "all star season", letting those who have already competed in a Top Chef season compete in another season of cooking to try and win the Top Chef title once and for all. This has made me come to realize though, that reality TV shows are using cast members that have already previously been on a show or on that same show. 

This trend started years ago when networks like MTV aired Real World/Road Rules Challenge shows using cast members from previously aired Real World and Road Rules seasons. Then networks like VH1 caught on and had shows like Charm School who used girls from other dating shows on VH1. Finally network TV has kind of put a spin on this idea by creating shows like Dancing with the Stars and Skating with the Stars using B or C list Hollywood stars, athletes, etc. to compete on the show. Furthermore, many people who start off in a reality show with many people seem to be getting their own spin off shows like Kendra and Holly who were on Girls Next Door. They both got their own TV shows on E! after their time with Hef ended. It seems like reality stars and already known famous people are being reused on shows. How can anyone new in the world get their 15 minutes of fame from a new reality show?