Change is Difficult

I don't talk about my work too much here on the blog but things have been a-changin'.

I have been with the same company for the last five and a half years, and happily so, but an opportunity presented itself and it seemed like a good one.

So I'm transitioning to a new company right after the new year.

I've been a bit absent the last few days and weeks because my head was all wrapped up in the process.   I'm not afraid of change but, even if it's all good, I get anxious and worked up.

So, I have let my current company know about this impending change and now I'm in that weird space between old and new.  Not sure about what's to come while still working on stuff that will be out of my hands soon. 

So the year will be ending along with a chapter of my professional life.  I am looking forward to the new while appreciating the past.  So, I'm sorry about the weird absences but I hope more good things to be coming down the road!

Managing Media

I know that things have been a little quiet around here.  We went off for a mini-break (it means true love, you know) and then on the way back my car had an ominous warning light come on which lead to my car being in the shop for days.  That, plus getting back to work and catching up has left us a bit frazzled.

In the midst of all of this time off and time back, I've been feeling the desire to make some changes in my life.  Some long term goals, some immediate needs - basically everything from where and how we want to live in 5 years to finances and a wardrobe overhaul.

No biggie.

And all this while, I feel like I'm drowning in a sea of content (books, movies, shows, articles for work and personal) to keep up all the social media sites I need to manage for my job and for the site and for personal.  Because this is my job as well as my hobby.  And even if I don't use every site personally, I need to understand the technology to help educate my agency and clients.

And frankly, I'm getting a bit overwhelmed.  Let's break it down. How I use it, how I value it and how can we make it all easier. What's expected to be shared and what can I just keep for myself. These are in a "my priority and preference" order.

Disclaimer - I heavily back up all of these online tools with their mobile apps or access them via my iPhone & iPad, equally if not more so than on my computer.

Twitter - @ShoeDaydreams

Twitter is frankly #1 to me.  I'd give up everything else before I give this up.  I love all the information I learn on there, the companies, brands and publications I follow and all of the friends I keep up with there.  I talk about them with my husband and probably interact and keep up with these people's lives as much as my offline friends.

I generally have the main Twitter site open in one browser tab, select people posts texted to my phone and keep Hoot Suite open in another tab to track the multiple accounts I use for the multitude of streams I manage.

But for fun I keep Trickle open on my iPad next to my computer so I can have the Tweets scrolling by and then jump on one that catches my eye.

Blog - www.ShoeDaydreams.com

The blog is what got me started in this whole madness (now multiple blogs including The Daily Coop) but there times when I think it may stop.  Will I do this forever, probably not, but I like having a forum for sharing thoughts, inspiration and ideas.  It's not about opening certain doors as it is about connecting with friends. That's what keeps it going.

I have 2 computers and the BlogPress app for the iPad so I really should be writing more, right?

Facebook - Poochie and Shoe Daydreams pages

Facebook... I was coerced to join.  I do this to keep up with the folks not on Twitter.  Sadly, there are some folks I know who I'm trying to get on to Facebook just so I don't have to email them.. and those that I wish would actually get on email.  Yeah, really.

Flickr - PrincessPoochie Photos

I like Flickr, but as with YouTube, this is all about cross-utilization of content for me.  Gives an extra traffic and stats boost.  I don't want to know what it's doing for some of my followers (Flickr, home of questionable groups, you know)

Tumblr - Living in Fashion Exile

I actually like reading Tumblr more than adding to it. There are some great sites on there, especially for activism, politics, feminist issues and news.  I wish I had more time so I could keep up with it as much as I like.  The visuals shared on there are great too.  I add to it but mostly through Istagram and reposting.  I'm no Tumblr star I guess.

Instagram - @Poochie

I know there are those that are over Instagram but I love it.  It's fun and gets me to take more pictures with the camera I have out all the time.  I really should almost stop carrying around my real camera.

I usually check it out on my phone but Instaview is great to keep open as well for a quick glance at what's going on.

Pinterest - Shoe Daydreams

Sites like We Heart It, etc., are not my favorites mainly because it seems like a bunch of unsourced images posted up my teen girls... but I think Pinterest will be a bit different.  I don't plan on doing tons on here but so far I'm using it to remind me of stuff I'd like to DIY, to buy and images to save instead of in my huge Inspiration folder.  I just started on there so maybe this will evolve. The Pinterest app is pretty easy to use too.

Google+ - Poochie Cooler

Google+... is it just me or is this still confusing as all hell or so redundant that I can't get into it yet.  I'm just not ready I think.  But, hey, I'm giving it a shot and getting spammed my Felicia Day, Wil Wheaton and Laughing Squid.

YouTube - PrincessPoochie's Channel

YouTube is, again,  cross-utilization of content.  If it's good, it'll be on the blog. Maybe vlogging will be a good application for a later project I have planned but right now it's not my medium.

Honorable Mentions

FourSquare - Poochie Cooler Shoe Daydreams

Who's still doing this a lot?  I was hopeful for more from companies but it's not evolving as much as I would like.  Right now the most fun is stealing the mayorship from someone I know.  Ha!

Spotify - Shoe Daydreams

Love it for me.  Don't really care about sharing my playlists etc. 

I also love Instapaper (so great for reading a web article I don't have time for), Flipboard iPad app, Zino for magazines and multiple paper notebooks to make all the lists I like to make.

How do you prioritize your media in this crazy age?  Anything I'm missing (please, I hope no)???

Fashion Influences (?)

While other bloggers were having fun at Lady Gaga, I was sitting in a town government commission meeting. This week was crazy so it’s been a little light on the blog front. Plus, as you can guess from the first sentence, my life can be straight up boring. It’s hard to find time to eat or sleep, much less do some thing fun like read or write.

But this morning I did finally get the chance to do a bit of link clicking and went over to Miss Tavi's site to read her post discussing fashion and responding to Tanya Gold’s Why I Hate Fashion article.

Before I launch into my thoughts about Ms. Gold’s article, I want to say that I think it’s great that I, a 37 year-old, can have an intellectual discussion with a 13 year-old. Many would relegate Tavi to a mere "child" status and discount much of what she has to say. I think that is very biased. I'm generally not a "kid person" but I am a fan of smart intellectually curious and engaged kids... just ask my amazingly smart and talented friend Miss Bridget who's been impressing the hell out of me since she was approximately 6 years old. I don't think it’s weird or surprising that Miss Tavi has an interest in and great knowledge of fashion and actually forms educated opinions about the arena. Heck, I remember at 13 I was given a list of classic books we were going to be reading in high school and college and was appalled that I hadn’t read some of them already. I then spent my summer reading most of the list. That age is the perfect time to be passionate about something and totally immerse yourself.

But back to the article and, in theory, my point for writing. I see both ladies’ perspectives here.

But I have another.

I appreciate artistry, especially in this day and age of increasingly disposable fashion. I appreciate the designer's eye and vision. I understand they have an aesthetic they are trying to achieve. I'm sure that is the rationale behind choosing the models they do. I can also see how a consumer seeing very thin girls and not seeing a range of sizes and shapes represented in ads, on the runway or even in stores can make you feel like you are pushed out of the realm of the "fashionable".

The way I have kept from being overly influenced and possibly feeling bad about myself is because I am a superficial consumer. I mentally separate the designer's fantasy from my purchasing criteria as much as I can. Tanya seems to be more ifluenced by the messaging they are sending. But what I think is great about fashion is creating your own vision with the pieces that are put out and less trying to fit into their fantasy. Sure, in my younger years I was probably more impacted body image-wise by advertising - ironically during my most effortlessly thin timespan - but I've worked to move on from that.

As I've gotten older, I just care about what I like. And while I'm not thin, I'm not outside of the range of "regular" sizes either. So while Ms. Gold feels liberated by no longer fitting in with fashion and therefore having an "outsider's" perspective on what she feels is the absurdity and dangers of the fashion industry, I'm still sort of in it. But what surprises me is why she lets it get to her. I've always tried to subscribe to the Eleanor Roosevelt saying: No one can make you feel inferior without your consent and WendyB’s: Wear what you want. Tanya should, especially as a 36 year old, be able to enjoy what she wears and not feel like she has to be or act a certain way because of a marketing campaign. Maybe that is a difficult task for her and many others.

It's not like I don't have body issues and self-conscious doubts like anyone else. But I try not to let that hold me back. I've never been easily influenced by outside pressures. I don't buy things because others are or becase they're in style or because of a devotion to a designer or brand. I only buy what I like. I just want what I want. I've said it before but it bears repeating- I don't care about a pedigree, if I like it, I like it. End of story. Maybe I've always been more self-confident and strong-willed than others. Heck, you could even call me cocky rather than the kinder "self- assured". And that great for me, right? Is it being to simplistic to say that everyone can feel this way? Do I have too high of expectations of people and expect others to be as strong willed as I am. Is that unfair?

But I have faith in people. I don't think you HAVE to feel bad about yourself, no matter what the ads and society norms say. You can be whoever and however you are and still have fun with your clothes. Yes, you can get mad and be frustrated when you see something you like or want and you can't get it. That sucks, believe me, I've been there. But when that happens, don't get mad at yourself or your body shape. Get mad at the companies ... And let them know! I can't tell you how many times I've called and bitched at a company for not making my size. You can do it too. Don't just sit there moping that fashion hates you and women and is nothing but something that makes us all miserable. Fashion is, at least for me, just fun. That's probably why I have a schizophrenic eclectic all-over-the-damn-place wardrobe. One day I'm in a vintage-inspired lady who lunches look and the next I'm in black sequins, bones and knee-high combat boots. I'm enjoying it, even if I get some crazy looks.

I am energized and inspired by my blogger friends. Them much more so than any industry type. Editors and models that have access to everything do little to impress me with their so called "style". Individuals creating unique personality-filled looks with pieces thrifted, vintage and from regular stores are much more inspiring.

If you enjoy who you are, you can enjoy clothes and accessories too.