The big 5-0!

No I'm not 50, but this is my 50th post according to my blog dashboard. It was almost exactly a year ago that I wrote my first blog post ever. So if you break it down, I have averaged about a post per week. Not bad, but this year I hope to write a lot more than that, and I also hope to contribute a lot more insightful, useful tidbits and share a lot more of the life and times of Allie Zog :)

In the past year I think I have learned a lot about the world of blogging and social networking. By know means would I dare to call myself an "expert," "guru," "maven" or any other cliche, I have read the many Twitter posts poking fun at self-proclaimed experts and I know better, but I definitely would say that my knowledge has advanced from beginner to at least intermediate, if not advanced...

Shortly after getting into the blogging craze, my boss and I attended The Ragan Communications Social Media Conference in Vegas and I was officially transformed from semi-geek to full on internet addict. The conference is coming up again this year and I would LOVE to go and further sharpen my skills but as you all know "in these economic times" budgets are a little tighter and educational trips to Vegas are a little harder to swing. I am accepting donations if anyone wants to sponsor me!

Are there other comparable conferences out there? Any offering discounts this year? Let me know!

Welcome back cheesy teen dramas, I missed you!

Is it weird that I still watch/slightly obsess over unrealistic teenage soap operas? This week has started off especially fantastical for me due to Monday night's doubleheader of dramatic overload (Gossip Girl and One Tree Hill). I would literally love to BE Blair Waldorf...I am not alone here am I? Her clothes, her hair, her attitude...team Blair all the way for me! And don't even get me started on Chuck...

Tonight I cozied up to the new season of 90210 and although it's obviously not as good as the Brenda/Kelly/Dylan love triangle of my youth, I find myself tuning in and being moderately entertained episode after episode.

Maybe I just need a little mindless escape and these shows offer it. Maybe I am subconsciously reliving my teen years through these silly little shows, or maybe I just really enjoy a good tale about a nanny-stalker, daddy-killer, illegitimate child, millionaire half-sibling romance every now and again. And for those of you not familiar, yes these are all real plot lines! Intrigued? Tune in to the good ole' CW-11 Monday's and Tuesday's and check it out...and no I don't work for them!

In other news, I have been keeping up with two of my "goals" so far. Writing more (on this thing and at work) and I have been less stressed the last 2 days (baby steps). As for the running and money saving, I have planned to do them, but haven't actually implemented the plan yet. I will though, just wait. I think I am going to continually add to my goals list throughout the year to keep on track. Tonight I would like to add a broad yet happy, dreamy goal for the year. I would like to get a passport and get it stamped at least once this year. And preferably not in Canada (no offense Canada, just thinking a little more exotic). OK I'll sign off with that one. More to come-stay tuned!

2009!

Along with the rest of the bloggers of the world, I would like to publicly list some of my goals for the upcoming year. I would call them New Year's resolutions but those tend to get forgotten by about January 12th or so (at least for me) so I will call them goals to make them seem more concrete. In no particular order here's my fired up goals for 2009:

• Write more. Simple, but this is a one I really hope I keep. This weekend I was reading through some old articles I had written while freelancing for a newspaper in Newport, RI and I became really nostalgic. I especially remembered the joy that writing a really awesome article brought me, and the pride and rush of exhilaration I got when people told me they had read/loved my work. Whether it's professionally, personally, on my blog or just in my journal, I vow to write more this year and keep the "writer's high" going.
• Run more. "Runner's high" is another favorite high of mine. I used to run track in high school and even considered running in college. I think the last time I ran was to catch a train, hail a cab or catch up with a fast-walking companion on the city streets. That's embarrassing to admit, so yeah, I'd like to run more, you know, for exercise. I'm thinking that downloading some new "workout tunes" on my i-pod, purchasing one of those armband thingys and maybe a new pair of spandex will spark my motivation. Any other tips?
• Worry less. This one will be tricky for me. I mostly have always thought of myself as carefree but in recent years I have actually discovered that I am an overly emotional person that was actually pretending to be carefree while really stressing about everything and constantly making mental lists, plans and entire life paths in my mind (and sometimes in a little yellow notebook). This year I would like to focus more on fixing the things I can fix, changing the things I am unhappy with and working confidently towards all my personal and professional goals. While doing that, I would like to stress less, let the little things slide, maintain a positive outlook and know that everything will fall into place one way or another. I would like to really live by the "everything happens for a reason" mantra that I once really believed in, and know that my future will indeed lead me to the crazy/strange/beautiful/peaceful life I have already dreamed up for myself. Make sense?
• Find inner harmony. Oh my god did I just say that? But really, going along with the worrying less thing, I need to find a way to maintain a healthy and stress free existence, seeing as I sometimes literally worry myself sick. I would like to get more into yoga, meditation, whatever. Perhaps take a weekly class, read some books, and take some time each morning to stretch, reflect and relax. I would like to take less medicine, and instead, try herbs, vitamins, diet change etc. to feel good (both mentally and physically). I would like to continue reading everything I can, newspapers, magazines, books, websites, blogs, EVERYTHING. I love reading, it makes me feel smart and happy. Any other ways to find balance? Let me know!
• OK last one, and I debated even writing this one down, but it has to be said. I would like to at least be on the track to financial freedom and comfort in 2009. Even though I was a late bloomer so to speak in the "real job" department, I think at my age, I should have a little nest egg, rainy day fund, etc. I would like to pay off my debts, have a respectable savings account, and maybe even a little left for luxuries like travel, wining and dining and Christian Laboutin shoes (OK maybe these red healed wonders will have to wait until 2010...) Also, going along with this, I would like to maybe live on my own for a while, which would require a certain amount of income. I have never lived completely alone before and I think it's something I should maybe experience?
  

So that's it for now (I think), any suggestions on how to keep up with these goals are more than welcome! Happy New Year everyone!

Holiday Season

Been a busy holiday season! Hence the infrequent posts...errr sorry!

Here are a few photos of what I've been doing. Mainly a nice blend of cheesy holiday tourist stuff (Bryant Park tree, Rockerfeller Center tree, Saks Window peeping, Peppermint Mocha-twist sipping, etc.) also some work functions mixed in and lots of shopping, baking (ok I'm lying about the baking, but I WANT to do some!) and lots of stress! I seem to always get really stressed this time of year no matter what is going on. It always seems like I have a million things to do and I freak out (I "freak out" alot...).

Anyway, I was snowed in tonight, just hanging out and catching up, so I figured I'd do the recap thing. Also, I just wrote a guest blog post to be appearing soon on my bosses blog HilaryTopper.com. Not sure when it will be up, but keep checking anyway...it's a fun read!

Twitter, Facebook, Digg: Can You Join Too Many Networks?

Twitter, Facebook, Digg: Can You Join Too Many Networks?

Great article! Yay for new media...enjoy :)

Addicted?

I have been adding new blogs to my RSS feeder for about 2 hours now. My boyfriend just called me out on the phone. He claimed I was holding the phone in one hand and scrolling through websites with the other--not entirely true--I had the phone balanced on my shoulder and was using both hands to read the latest on Mashable and Geeksugar... ;)

I think I have a newfound love of tech gadgets...I decided I must have one of these (see above, still learning about picture placement...) Calling Steve Jobs, I would gladly accept an early x-mas present :)

As of this moment, I have accounts on:

Plaxo
Linked In
Facebook
Myspace (is anyone using this anymore?)
Twitter
Friendfeed
Tumblr

I'm sure there's more...am I missing any good ones??

My next steps (gotta save some excitement for the weekend) are to upload a bunch of photos to Flickr and possibly some video to Vimeo. Stay tuned :)

A parade, a move, a movIE and lots of pumpkin bread...

This is my first blog post from what I'm calling a "change of venue." I am temporarily living at my parent's winter home (ok it's their summer, fall, and spring home too, but doesn't it sound more glamorous that way??). I have decided to move in here because a) my former roommates wanted to move (without me, more or less) b) I couldn't afford much of a place on my own and c) I'm hoping my next move lands me in the 212 area code as a resident and not just a frequent guest...

So in between turkey, the parade, and the holiday shopping frenzy, I made the journey back home...with a little (ok A LOT) of help from loved ones...

I'm hoping the peace and simpleness of home will give my mind and body the rejuvenation and motivation I need to get to work on fulfilling all my life's dreams and "to-do before I'm 30" items...

What else did I do on this long and much needed weekend? I went to the Macy's Parade for the first time ever. Reaction? Fun, a must-do once sorta thing, a warm and fuzzy feeling activity, especially if you're with someone you feel warm and fuzzy about. Suggestion to Mr. Macy--the "celebrities" should wear signs or something, I couldn't tell the Jonas Brothers from ummm, other people, especially when they weren't performing in front of me.

I also took in a flick this weekend with the mom. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. One word-Haunting. If you haven't seen it, you should, if you can stand a depressing, core-shaking movie, but one that like my mom said, needs to be seen. After it ended the theater was literally silent for a good five minutes and no one spoke or moved. Can't remember the last time I saw that happen...

It's Monday night, I've watched my Gossip Girl, shopped online, read some blogs, and now it's lights out...tomorrow is a new day, I've got lots of work to do, but I'm hoping this will be a good week!