Things I Want to Learn

Do you have a list of things that you always say to people “yea, I want to learn to do that?”  I’m not sure about you, but I know I definitely do.  For today’s post, I thought it’d be fun to share my list with you all and get some inspiration to get started!

1.     Photography:  For Christmas last year, I got a DSLR.  This is what I use for all of videos on my main channel, and I’ve gotten compliments on my quality, even though I know it could be better still.  I’ve also begun to get better using it to take pics (mostly of the dogs, though I did use it for my grad pics).  What I’d like to do is really get into using it more and learn all of the intricate details of the camera and be able to utilize it to the best of its abilities.

2.     Photoshop: Learning this program has always been something that I’ve only known the very very basics of (as in, I can crop a picture and that’s it).  But, I want to be able to use it all.  I know a lot of it is just playing around with the program, but I feel as if I need more guidance with it to at least get me going.  So, I need to take that initiative.  But it’s definitely something that I want to do in the near future.  Plus, this is a skill that will most certainly help me with my blog and videos!

3.     Web Design: Another skill that will help me with my blog, and in turn, produce better quality for you, I would love to learn more about web design.  I am in the process of transforming my blog and ‘revamping’ it, but learning more about web design would definitely help with this.  So it’s a learning process and will take some time.

4.     Video Editing: I would love to learn more about video editing and be able to utilize those skills towards my videos on YouTube.  Currently, I just use iMovie to edit, but eventually, once I get more into my channels, I’d like to ideally upgrade to a better editor and learn that.  But for now, I would like to learn more about the ins and outs of the program I am currently using so that I can use it to the best of its ability.

5.     Sewing: Sewing is a very practical skill as it means I can repair holes, hem pants, etc.  It’s always been something that I’ve enjoyed – when I was younger my grandmother and I would make small things like sleeping bags and pillows for my Barbie dolls.  But, now that I’m older I’d like to learn more intricate things.

6.     Knitting/Crocheting: This is something that I’ve already been working on.  And with the help of my Aunt, Grandmother, and my friend Megan, eventually I’ll get it right.  It’s very relaxing, and I highly recommend giving it a try if you never have.

So there you have it!  All of these things are things that I’ve wanted to learn for years – way before blogging, or YouTube even started for me.  And now I’m finally making moves to learn them, and it feels great.

What are YOU interested in learning to do?  Share your ideas, tips, and dreams with me!  Tweet me, instagram me pics of your latest project, or leave me a comment below.  I’d love to hear and see what you’ve all been up to!

Update: The Sick Girl Diaries

In case you couldn’t tell from the title, I’ve been sick this past week.  And let’s just say it’s been a not fun time.  But when is being sick ever a good time? 

Somehow I got a stomach virus that is quite similar to the flu.  If you’ve ever had the flu, it’s not as bad as that, but it’s pretty horrible.  As I currently munch on my plain toast and tea (now going on sick day #4), I’m finally starting to feel somewhat normal again, but it also just felt so… odd not talking to you guys or not posting a video or anything in days.  For those of you wondering, that’s why this past Thursday’s main channel video did not go up, and why Weekly Vlog #2 did not go up yet.  Heck.  They haven’t even been edited yet.  But never fear, it’ll all be taken care of soon.

So what have I been doing since I’ve been sick?  Well after the initial, ‘oh great,’ feeling left me, and I realized I’d be on the couch for a few days, I committed myself to FINALLY catching up on “The Vampire Diaries.”  I was unable to watch any of season four last year while it was airing because of other obligations with school, life, and just other things.  So, when I got the dvds of the season for my birthday a few weeks back I really wanted to catch up before the new season aired – which didn’t happen.  The storyline just wasn’t pulling me in, and I couldn’t marathon it and get through it quickly.  But, once I was sick, I pushed past the hard part, and actually found that the second half of the season was amazing and was able to fly through it in less than a day!  I also caught up on the episodes that I’ve missed that have aired this season already, so I am now already to watch the episodes as they air! 

I’ve also been getting really excited about the new show, “The Originals.”  I haven’t watched any of the new episodes, but the spin-off episode in “The Vampire Diaries” got me so excited for this show.  I mean Klaus having a BABY??? 

I also caught an episode of “The Crazy Ones,” a new CBS show.  I admit, I watched for the actors, and will probably keep watching just because of who they are, but I did enjoy my half hour’s worth of entertainment.  If you don’t know, “The Crazy Ones” stars Robin Williams and Sarah Michelle Gellar (Buffy!).

Other than massive amounts of tv, I slept a bunch, so there’s not too much to tell.  What do you like to do when you’re sick?  I certainly hope none of you get this awful bug that I had because it was/is not a fun experience.  So stay healthy, and have a great day!

How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying: The Musical Experience

Hey Everyone!  For today’s post, I’d like to welcome a very special guest blogger, Megan.  Megan is my oldest friend (we literally new each other in diapers), and is currently a student at SCAD.  A few years back, right after my study abroad experience, we took a train into New York City and saw Daniel Radcliffe star in the musical “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.” 

Seeing the performance was an incredible experience for me.  As soon as I had heard the announcement on mugglenet.com that Radcliffe was going to be starring in a musical, I knew that I just had to see it.  And lucky for me, I had someone willing to go with me. 

If you were to ask me what my favorite song was in the entire performance was I would most definitely say “Brotherhood of Man.”  I just love the lyrics and I loved the dancing and energy that goes into each performance of it.  But, I do have other favorites in the show including, “Coffee Break,” “A Secretary is Not a Toy,” “Been a Long Day,” and “I Believe in You.”  I even had a painted sign that I made with a quote from, “I Believe in You,” hanging in my apartment in college.

Sadly, we didn’t get to meet Daniel Radcliffe, but we did get John Larroquette to sign our playbills and a few of the other dancers’ signatures as well.  Was I disappointed at the time given my slight Radcliffe obsession? Yes.  But I realized I was incredibly lucky to have even been able to go, and quickly got over it.

If you haven’t seen any of the performances from the cast then you’re definitely missing out.  I’ll link one of them below so that you can experience some of the magic.  Also, be sure to check out the Broadway Soundtrack for the musical (linked below).  It’s amazing!

And now, for your reading pleasure, here are our special guest’s thoughts for the day:

I’m not sure which of us discovered that Daniel Radcliffe was starring in a musical but we decided pretty much right away that we would figure out a way to get off work, get together and travel to go see the musical in New York City over the summer. 

Now I already had a little background into the show because I was a dancer in my middle school production of the show and had seen the movie before; Allison decided to go based on my opinion and of course he fact that Daniel Radcliffe was in it.  I’m not sure if any of you have seen it but if you have let’s face it, it’s hysterical; it is witty in both dialogue and lyrics.  When I was twelve I didn’t get every single reference or joke that was made but I caught onto enough of them that I enjoyed the entire experience.  It was incredibly different, both in seeing the play in its entirety and now being eighteen and catching all the jokes, seeing How to Succeed for the second time.  A Secretary is not a Toy in particular made a lot more sense- I knew when I was performing that there were things going over my head but I didn’t realize how much was CUT OUT until then.

Leading up to the play I was anxious to see how Daniel Radcliffe would do at a musical.  The other cast members like John Larroquette and Tammy Blanchard I was really excited to see live and perform but he wasn’t someone who had done anything like this before; plus I had seen a subpar version of Brotherhood of man as part of the promotion for the musical closer to the date we were going.   As it turned out I had nothing to worry about.  Radcliffe threw himself into the role of J. Pierrepont Finch completely.  His energy level had gone way up from the one performance I had seen his dancing, while certainty not the best on the stage, was raw and seemed larger than his small frame.  His singing had also improved quite a bit.  Unfortunately the CD, which I of course bought, was recorded months earlier to be ready for the opening of the show and his singing was nowhere near as good as when we got to actually see the play, so that part is a little disappointing but I listen to the CD all the time anyways…. like right now, or when I’m bored, or no other music is appealing to me, or really whenever. 

These songs are also extraordinarily easy to quote in everyday life- even if no one else gets it.  For example if I’m in a critique and someone has a huge ego and is being pretentious what pops into my head?

“Big deal, big rocket,
Thinks he has the world
In his pocket.”

And how many times do my family and I sing this?

“Well, it's been a long,
Been a long, been a long,
Been a long day.”

Answer: All the time- pretty much every day.  The list goes on and on.

“Brotherhood of Man” performance on David Letterman: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GT33P-vzug8

Check out the full soundtrack to the show!!!! Click here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004WJRGKW/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B004WJRGKW&linkCode=as2&tag=constcomme-20

Vlogs are BACK!

Just a quick announcement to let you all know that I'm VLOGGING again!

For those of you that don't know, vlogging is basically making a video diary or, video blogging.  I'll be doing this Monday through Friday of every week, and uploading the complete video either on Friday or Saturday of the week, depending on my work schedule.

Vlogs will be uploaded to my second channel, allisoncomments.  http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGN7AZUPnMFFjVRrcmE2SGA


To view this week's vlog (Sept 30 - Oct 4) follow the link below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2V44q6D_kA&feature=youtu.be

Thanks again for everyone's continued support on my YouTube channels and blog!  You're support means the world to me, and I definitely could not do it without you!

Allison

Help a Great Cause!

Hey Guys-

I've never done anything like this on my blog before, so this is a first.  One of my very best friends, Christine, is raising money for Special Olympics charity, and in turn will get to repel down a building!  Please help support her in any way that you can, and share the link below with your friends and family.

http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/christine-wells-13/oteraleigh


Thanks so much for all of your support in Christine's efforts to help a great cause, and as always, thanks for supporting me in my blogging efforts! :)

Allison

California Trip: Part 2

Welcome back to my little re-cap of my adventures in sunny LA!  If you haven’t read part 1, I highly recommend that you do so, though it isn’t required for you to understand anything in this post.

Visiting the Venice Canals (think the movie “Valentine’s Day”) was another great little afternoon spent.  The area that they’re in is really vibrant and full of colorful people and definitely makes you understand the appeal of the LA beach area and why some people like living there as opposed to the LA city area.  Because believe me, the beach and city are completely different.

Venice Canals

Another favorite aspect of the trip was visiting Beverly Hills.  While we didn’t go out and stalk celebrities’ homes or anything like that, we did spend some time wandering around Rodeo Drive.  We had a nice little lunch, and then went ‘shopping’ in the shops.  And by shopping, I mean we went into Gucci, pretended to be interested in buying those $15,000 heels, tried them on, and then left saying they didn’t fit right.  In a jewelry store, my Aunt even tried on a diamond bracelet that was forty thousand and then was asking about making alterations to it!  It was hilarious.  And the employee didn’t even question her- he just assumed that because she was in the store she had the money to pay for something like that.  I mean, it’s Beverly Hills, everyone has that kind of money, right?  If you ever go to the LA area, just go and play pretend on Rodeo Drive, it’s quite fun.

Rodeo Drive

Rodeo Drive

I’m so glad I chose to go to LA and spend this time with my Aunt as opposed to going to Beach Week with the friends that now, four years later, I don’t even speak to.  I know I had a much better time then I would have had if I’d gone to the beach, and I had much more valuable an exciting experiences.  If you are graduating and/or planning a trip, I strongly advise you to consider all of your options.  While going to the beach may be the cheapest option, there may be ways to do other things.  Get creative, and you could have a much better time. J

Until next time,

Happy Reading!