Author: Allie

I'm a 30-something mom, writer, and dreamer at heart.
Livin' and Lovin', Social Media

New Look!

by Allie2 Comments on New Look!

Wow, I’ve spent way too much time tonight mulling over my new blog design. While the basic “harbor” theme that I remember loving so much when I first saw it on blogger a few years ago served me well (and reminded me of Newport, RI, one of my favorite places on Earth), I knew it was time for a *slightly* more mature look!

As much as I love, love, love the beach and wanted so badly to make my background a sunset on a pier in Tahiti, I figured I’d give my blog a “city edge” since that’s where I currently live and work.
How do you like it folks??
I’d love suggestions, help, ideas, etc. from my readers. Even though I work in social media I have a somewhat limited knowledge of web design, coding, etc. so this took me a few hours but I plan on adding some other stuff soon as well. Twitter widgets, photos, more pages, etc.
Along with the new look I also plan to add a lot more content to the blog and have been jotting down all the crazy things I want to write about on scraps of paper for the last few days now! Call it a “creative burst” but I’m feeling all bloggy again 🙂
More to come, so stay tuned!
Life Lessons, Worklife

Hilarious…

by Allie2 Comments on Hilarious…

I had to post this here because I am still laughing about it a full day later. One of my best friends forwarded me an old IM convo she had saved from a few years ago. It took place I would guess within the first month of my first “real world” job at a PR firm in NY (Editor’s note: I spent the previous 3+ years waiting tables by the beach in Newport, RI). Big public thank you to my friend Jen for getting me through those first few rocky weeks. I think we can all appreciate when we first learned of the infamous “BCC”…

(And yes my AOL screename was, and embarasssingly still IS, smilesah)
SmilesAH: what does IT stand for
SmilesAH: like computer fixer for our office is called “IT” guy
jnylee22: IT?
jnylee22: usually Internet and Technology for dept type things at work
jnylee22: is that what you mean
SmilesAH: i dont know these terms, im not cut out for corporate world
SmilesAH: i should just be left to write free flowing poetry and mail it into someone else to publish, i dont like CCing, and did u know u can BCC? and the expression “going forward”?
jnylee22: yeah i never say “going forward”…but i BCC all the time
jnylee22: you know what people say at my work all the time that i hate…?
jnylee22: ‘please advise’
SmilesAH: yes, HATE IT…umm BCCing reminds me of that scene in mean girls with the 3 way calling
SmilesAH: i dont like it, its sneaky
jnylee22: yeah people at my work only do it when they’re trying to make someone see how stupid someone else is
jnylee22: ‘like hey i just bcc’d you on that email to mandy..what a dumbass hahahaha’
jnylee22: and then we all laugh
SmilesAH: can the BCCed see who else got it
jnylee22: yes
jnylee22: but not if someone another bccer
jnylee22: just either the tos or the CCs
jnylee22: the bcc can see everyone except another bccer
SmilesAH: but no one else can see the BCCed
jnylee22: right
SmilesAH: SHIT
SmilesAH: so peopleknow they were Bcc
jnylee22: right
SmilesAH: shitshitshit
SmilesAH: i so wrongly BCCed today!
jnylee22: hahahahahaha
jnylee22: why what happened?
SmilesAH: well i was sending what this reporter thought was an exclusive story idea to him, but I was sending it to another reporter too, so i BCCed one, figuring neither could see each, so The one who was BCCed knows it went to someone else but the one who was To doesnt know anyone else got it right?>
SmilesAH: I need to figure out whose gonna be pissed at me
jnylee22: yes thats exactly it
SmilesAH: so the TO is gonna be pissed
jnylee22: no the BCC is gonna be pissed
SmilesAH: so theres no way to send to multiple people blindly?
SmilesAH: ohh right, the BCC
SmilesAH: the TO didnt see the BCCed
SmilesAH: ahhhhh I hate corporate america, i thought screwing up somones drink order was bad
jnylee22: yeah you can…send it to yourself as the TO and BCC both seperated by commas
SmilesAH: ohhh the double BCC is that legal??
jnylee22: yes very
SmilesAH: u have to TO someone
jnylee22: you do
jnylee22: its just that sometimes with that it looks shady bc they know they got that email somehow and they prob know that trick
SmilesAH: this is very helpful Jen i must say, good thing I didnt also BCC my boss like were supposed to when we send important clients emails, because then shed know my error
SmilesAH: its all coming together, how come no one explained
jnylee22: i thought it was known
SmilesAH: ur like a fountain of knowledge right now
jnylee22: but then again i mustve just got it when i started at verisign
SmilesAH: ive spent the last 7 years of my life behind a frosted glass, how would i know these things
jnylee22: i dont know al, im just glad i was here to help
Livin' and Lovin', NYC

Back to Happy Allie…

by AllieLeave a Comment on Back to Happy Allie…

So, seeing as my last post was kinda a downer (and also labeled “melodramatic” by certain family members) I will now (attempt) to return to previously scheduled programming, AKA funny, witty, snarky Allie posts about pop culture, ditsy PR girls and bizarre “only in NYC” observations…

For today, I will observe that NYers “jump the gun” a little when it comes to summer. Yes, today was gorgeous out (hallelujah!) but was it really short shorts weather? I mean was it really teeny-tiny flowered dress weather ladies? Especially when pasty shoulders and unpainted toenails are involved, you may want to at least wait until May to make your summer outfit debut!
I also get a good chuckle out of all the restaurants that suddenly offer “outdoor” seating when the weather turns warm. Sidewalks have never been in such high demand! I have to laugh when there are like 3 tables crammed on the sidewalk and everyone is fighting for the “patio seating.”
Also related–I can’t do my gosh darn laundry tonight in my building because everyone apparently had the same idea–there is still a line for a washer at nearly 10pm. Oh NY, why must you love me, hate me, and then love me again…
Life Lessons, Livin' and Lovin'

Laugh, Cry, Smile, Frown, Life

by Allie1 Comment on Laugh, Cry, Smile, Frown, Life

Sometimes I get really sad for no reason–or at least no good reason. Sometimes I cry…a lot. Sometimes even though it seems I should be very happy-I’m not. Sometimes it feels like something is missing but I don’t know what it is. Sometimes when everything is going right-it still feels wrong. And many times, I wonder-am I the only one feeling this way?

Living in NYC is nothing like I thought it would be-and yet it’s everything I thought it would be and more–does anyone else know what I’m talking about?
I often stare at people on the subway and wonder what they do for living, where they’re going, where they’ve been, are they doing what they want to be doing, are they satisfied in their life, etc. etc. But these days, what I’ve really found myself wondering is what those same people think of me. What image do I portray? Do I look happy? Successful? Smart? Confident? Am I all these things? Depends which day you ask me…
The problem with this city is that I think it may be impossible to be satisfied when you are always faced with the opportunity to be more, do more and have more. Some days this can be a blessing, and other days it can be a curse. Some days I feel so proud of myself for what I’ve accomplished and other days I feel I have miles to go. I was never one of those people who couldn’t be satisfied–in fact I would have to say I was quite the opposite. I used to lead a very content life-and I was just waiting tables and killing time! Now, I have a career, an apartment in the most expensive and desirable city in the world, a real life for myself. Like I said, some days I’m proud-others I wonder why I don’t have just a little more.
Lately I’ve completely morphed into that person that I guess I always secretly admired, that person that pushed the limits and always wanted more. I think now that I’ve seen what there is to be had out there–and I’m not talking money here, I’m talking experiences, places to go and people to meet–I want it all.
Today the sun was shining–in every way it can. Today I woke up feeling blessed to live here, I ate lunch at Bryant Park knowing how many people in this world will never experience that simple pleasure…today I didn’t cry…but yesterday I did…
In the News

The Olympics!

by AllieLeave a Comment on The Olympics!

I’ve always been a sucker for the Olympics. Maybe it’s because the only sports I was ever any good at were gymnastics and track which are only really mainstream during the Olympics. While I’ve always like the Summer games better for the obvious reasons, the Winter games are made of just as many heartwarming tales and tear-worthy moments, which is what I love most about the Olympic games.

This year’s Vancouver games started on a sad note with the passing of the Georgian Luger, but the opening ceremonies in general (especially the parade of athletes!) always invoke tears for me. This year’s highlight was the remake of “We are the World” (watch the video here if you haven’t seen it–pretty awesome), and lots of surprise celebrity Canadian guests. Who knew there were so many famous Canadians?
My absolute favorite thing about the Olympics is the behind the scenes stories you don’t see on the medal stand. The lone bob-sledder from Ghana that somehow overcame the odds to make it to the games, or the kid from America who grew up poor and made it out of poverty because of their “gift.” What can I say, I’ve always loved a good story!
This Olympics, I’ll be looking forward to watching some snowboarding (go Gretchen Bleiler!) as well as some skating and hockey. What’s your favorite part of the games?