Books and Their Electronic-selves

Ever since the dawn of Amazon's Kindle I have been vehemently against electronic books. Part of it is due to the silliness of 'soon they will replace real books completely' and 'but you love to read! don't you want one?' No matter what anyone says I find it hard to believe that real, paper books are going to just disappear. Sure, maybe they'll become less but they're not going to just go away.

I love books. I love how they feel, how they smell, picking one up, and being able to fold pages over or run my finger under the words. Ever since I learned to read I've devoured at least 8 books a summer. And now, since I have temporarily vacated my home state, I was limited to 2. 2 books was all I could travel with. And for someone like me, this is devastation.

The dawn of the electronic book has increased the number of readers. Nothing about this is bad. The electronic book makes countless titles more accessible. Nothing about this is bad, either. All you need to carry is one fairly small device and you are essentially carrying an entire library. This sort of access was unimaginable before the Kindle. And now you can take you pick of Kindle, or Nook, or iPad. You can access the internet, buy books as soon as you hear about them, broaden the books you hear about. The possibilites really seem endless, and even though I have remained stubborn for so long, the lack of books on my bed stand is a sad and lonely picture.

I will never abandon the old-fashioned book. They are my first true love. But I may need to consider being a part of the present and having everything I want in a small, portable package.

Not Jane Austen, though. That just seems wrong.


--Rachael

To Tan or Not to Tan

Some of us spend the entirety of the summer on the beach in a bikini, soaking up the sun's rays and drinking pina coladas. And then there's others who have to lather up in sunscreen every time they go outdoors and look for the shady spots on the lawn to pop a squat on. As someone who is paler than pale, I have been trained to be afraid of the sun. When given the option I choose shade, at the beach I need to be under an umbrella, and sunscreen is my summer fling. Even still, I have many friends who bake in the summer and become so tan that I'm convinced they've changed races on me.

It's not secret that tan is what is considered attractive nowadays. We have created the man-made tan in the forms of a UV box and tinted chemicals. Every celebrity plastered on a magazine cover glows a nice golden brown. And of course there's the week-before-prom fake-tan frenzy.

But let's face it: tanning to the extreme is unhealthy. Skin cancer, skin damage, and major wrinkles are all side-effects. And because of the tanning trend, skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. According to the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention), 58,094 people in the US were diagnosed with melanomas of the skin in 2007. 8,461 of these people died. I know that even though I'm not into the tanning thing, I'm at risk for skin cancer. And I think it's pretty frightening that in my high school days, the girls who were known for spending hours in tanning booths claimed to 'not care' about the risk of skin cancer.

It's okay to tan. It happens naturally and it happens to a lot of us and yeah, quite frankly it does look nice. But let's remember the facts and keep them in mind while sipping pina coladas on the beach this summer. Get a little brown and then consider picking up the sunscreen for awhile. It will do you some good and save you some wrinkles in the future.

And don't we all want that?

--Rachael

Hollywood Messes

Even for those who don't avidly follow the fascinating, poisonous world of celebrity insanity, everyone tends hear about the worst of the worst. The people who are injected by the fame bug and let it completely ruin their lives are the ones who show up on the local evening news, on the covers of tabloids at the grocery store, and even come up in conversation on the radio. I probably don't even have to give examples, as all of them seem to come to mind immediately, most notably of late Charlie Sheen and Lindsay Lohan.

Frankly, our fascination with the crumbling infrastructure of these people's lives is pretty twisted, but at the same time it's hard to feel guilty about. After all, they realize what they've gotten into and know that the world (well, not the entire world) is following their every move. Honestly, I find it hard to believe that it's become appropriate to create a spectacle out of your deplorable lifestyle. And yet, I eat the news up with a spoon like Nutella out of the jar.

So why? Why do we encourage these people to fall apart? Is it to make us feel better about our slightly more mundane lives? is it purely for entertainment? Doesn't that make us just as bad?

While I will never understand why people paid hundreds of dollars to watch Charlie Sheen be an absolute mess on stage or why people will continue to enable Lindsay Lohan to be self-destructive, it happens. And I can think it's shameful and disgusting all I want yet I will be a hypocrite and continually log onto Perez Hilton's blog everyday to stay informed. I suppose that just like Charlie and Lindsay, I am allowed my vices (although mine doesn't quite endanger my life, maybe just a small piece of my sanity). After all, I suppose that at the very core we're not all that different. It's interesting to think about what your life would be like if it had taken just a slightly different path. Would you ever be in Lindsay's Blahniks? Would you ever really be able to know?

I suppose there's hope for them all. Hey, Britney's back! Let's send some positive vibes, shall we?

--Rachael

V-Cards and Sex Stories

There comes a time in every girl's life where she's thrown in with new people and faced with different experiences in a different environment. For most, this is college. And for those who left a small group of friends that they've had since middle school and spent their lives surrounded by the same things every day for 18 years, this time of life can be both a culture shock and an eye-opening occurence.

I guess you could say that growing up in the small town that I did, having the same friends for a majority of my life, my experiences regarding sex were pretty limited. Yes, of course, by the time you're in high school you know what sex, is how it works, people who are doing it. But I guess being surrounded by people who for the most part weren't doing it, my impression was molded into thinking that those who did were the minority.

Apparently, I was mistaken.

College introduced me to modern social code. Sex is not like the movies, sex is not taboo, sex is something that isn't as sacred to a lot of people as I had believed. The story of how/when/where/why you lost your virginity comes up pretty early in friendship, and sex is the most common topic of conversation on those nights that homework is ignored into oblivion.

Everyone sees it differently. Everyone holds their own morals and values and everyone can tell you something different about their beliefs and experiences. I find it truly fascinating to spend a night sharing these things with friends and I am no longer afraid to bring it up, to question things, and to hear about it. But by far, I have found it so comforting to find people who understand, even if they think differently. Nobody wants to be ridiculed for their morals, and I think that's something important to remember.

The big V. Who still has it, who lost it, who's is so far gone that nobody know when it happened? Virginity is sacred to some, meaningless to others, and in between for the rest. So is it shameful to have it or not to have it? Is it cool to have lost it or was it something that shouldn't have happened? The same questions always surround the word and it's usually gossip or plain conversation that brings about the answers. Is promiscuity attractive or waiting for marriage? What do men like?

Why does this matter so goddamn much?

Ladies, if there is anything I have discovered it is that sex is fun to talk about, but something that you should never change your mind about just for the talk. Your virginity is your virginity and no one else's. So men don't like you preference? Find one that will. So your friends think your crazy for waiting? They'll get over themselves. You think your friends are crazy for waiting? Then go have your own sex. Whether you're having sex or not, never let it take over your life. We are fierce, we are independent, and we can do whatever the hell we want with our sex lives. That's the beauty of it. And I suppose the best part is that we can talk about it and listen to each other and laugh and cry and squeal.

Nothing like a container of Oreos and some sex talk. But please, spare the gritty details.

--Rachael

Literary Anti-Heroines

For every literary heroine, there is the anti-heroine. The pathetic, mundane, and embarassing female that makes you cringe as you read. These are characters that need some work and unfortunately generate stereotypes about females. The anti-heroine is often pathetic, whiny, clingy, and has no self-respect. Ladies, let's be the heroines of our own lives and take a note about how not to act from the following.

Lily Bart; The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton: Lily begins as a privileged female and ultimately ends up falling apart. Her forays into her elite and painful society are detailed by Wharton, who actually experienced a somewhat similar lifestyle. Ultimately, Lily cannot handle her downfall and commits suicide. This fate could have been avoided if she had a sassy gay friend. But seriously, her life at the end of the novel is really not that bad and it just is such a shame that she reacted in this manner.

Bella Swan; Twilight by Stephenie Meyer: Bella is so ridiculously pathetic and attached to Edward, that when he leaves her she sees no reason in living and decides that there is no point to her life. Really? He's just a guy. Get over it and move on. There is no reason that we should be changing and dedicating ourselves to men and the fact that these books are meant for girls of an impressionable age is worrying. They should be given a role model with self-respect, independence, and strong-will. Bella has none of these things and frankly is the most embarassing female I've ever read about.

The Girls of Constance Prep; Gossip Girl by Cecily von Zeigser: I will admit that most of my pre-teen years were spent obsessing over this series. For teen fiction, they're pretty well-writen and are filled with a colorful and interesting array of characters who lead intoxicating lives. However, at a different stage of my life I've come to find that these girls are anything but strong females. Sure, there are exceptions but for the most part its loveless sex, drinking and drug use for attention, and never having to work a day in their lives because of mommy and daddy's money.

Anti-heroines all around, but at least we can learn our lesson!

"Be the leading lady of your own life." -The Holiday


--Rachael

Literary Heroines

There comes a time in every girl's life when she stumbles across a character in a book and falls in love. For me, this is nearly every time I pick up a book. And by falling in love, I don't just mean with with the dashing prince or crime-fighting stud. Heroines inspire and intrigue. They are a source of entertainment and advice. I know that in my times of writer's block and musings of love I wonder, What would Carrie Bradshaw do? (this is due to my new found love of Sex and the City, courtesy of my roommates, and even despite the general consensus is that I am in fact, more of a Charlotte). I've had literary heroines ever since I learned to read, although I don't remember most of the ones from my younger days. There are however ones that have stuck with me and those are the ones that I believe are of merit.

Every girl should read these novels and take note. That is my advice to you. And if none of these appeal, then find your own! Go pick up a book and find a heroine or two for yourself. It's nice to think about on bad dates or bad hair days. And reading is good for you.

1. Emma Woodhouse; Emma by Jane Austen: Though I will not bore you with my adoration of Jane Austen in this post, just know that I think she is the queen of literary heroines. Emma is my favorite because of her wit and her stubbornness. 29 and unmarried, she is content with this regardless of societal views at the time and prides herself on her matchmaking skills. Her views on the absurdity of the women in her society are funny and relatable while her relationship with her father and her friendships are endearing. I adore her because she falls in love with her best friend in a truly human way, and of course there is a happy ending. She does not apologize for her bold ways and even upon her engagement, doesn't seem to be the type to fall into a stereotypical housewife.

2. Jane Eyre; Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte: Poor Jane Eyre comes from the shittiest background imaginable. She's an orphan living with an aunt and uncle, her uncle dies and her aunt treats her like a maid. She gets sent to a charity school for being 'deceitful' where she's treated like dirt, her best friend dies in her arms, and then she becomes a governness for the ward of a rich man. So much happens to Jane in this book that its ridiculous, but regardless she maintains a strong will and is extremely intelligent for a women of her background. She doesn't apologize for being who she is and by no means feels like she must be taken care of by a man. Also, she doesn't marry for the sake of it and even declines marriage at one point because she's not in love with him. Again, at her time this is a big deal. The Bronte sisters were awesome this way.

3. Hermione Granger; Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling: Hermione is brilliant, relatable, and more fearless than I could ever deem myself if put in any situation she's dealt with. Growing up with Hermione gave me more confidence in liking to read (unpopular amongst most kids) and in speaking my mind. She has her girl moments just as we all should, but she's strong, independent, and above all an incredible friend.

4. Sam; The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky: Sam is the sort of girl I could identify myself with in high school, but not completely. She's a heroine because she's imperfect and isn't afraid of it, because she doesn't feel the need to fit-in with the majority, and because she sees more in someone who people barely see than even he could. She's intelligent, creative, and flawed which is makes her human. Because even though the term 'heroine' generally conjurs up images of goddesses and high beings, I think it's important to remember that we are who we are, and that is what should make us heroes.

5. Rebecca Bloomwood; Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella: Skip forward to present-life and present-interests and a lighter literary genre. "Chick lit" is both my passion and my pleasure, and this book tops my list. Rebecca is completely relatable to any fashionista. And talk about flaws, Rebecca has plenty. But she's optimistic, she's happy, and her passion is infectious. She knows what she likes and she's going to go for it. And no matter how much she fucks up her life, she manages to get back on track again. Not even mind-blowing debt destroys her; she uses her wit and her smarts to get back on her feet (which are adorned in fabulous shoes). Respect.

So there you have it. A list of heroines to consult and admire. Time to go be productive for the rest of the evening.

Hmm...what would Carrie Bradshaw do?


--Rachael

The Met Gala

Last night was the ever-so-fabulous Met Gala, this year dedicated to the late and great Alexander McQueen. It's been a big week for the label, considering McQueen's creative director Sarah Burton desgined both of Kate Middleton's wedding gowns.

Needless to say, every notable person you could think of was at the Metropolitan in New York last night, including my idol, Anna Wintour, looking classy and elegant in a shiny Chanel gown.

However my favorite gown of the evening was surprisingly Ashley Greene in Donna Karan. This sparkling yet humble dress has an ethereal feel and I think the color and shape complement her nicely.

Other favorites included a very pregnant Kate Hudson in Stella McCartney, Gisele Bundchen in vintage McQueen, and Taylor Swift in J. Mendel.

All of these can be found on www.perezhilton.com, so be sure to take a look!

As the rest of you fashionistas, I would have sold my soul to be there last night. Alas, maybe one day.

--Rachael

The Clingy Issue

Ladies, it's always nice to have someone to kiss and talk to and have buy you dinner. It's nice being able to flip your clodagh ring upright and be able to talk about your boyfriend to all of your wide-eyed, jealous girlfriends. And yes, it is certainly very nice to be able to look across the room at the eye candy that you brought to the party. But ladies, let's be real. It's not everything. And when boyfriend becomes the world and more, problem sets in.

We've all seen it happen time and time again with our best girlfriends. They find a nice man, you meet him a few times, and suddenly your girlfriend disappears for a while, answering your texts with various excuses and posting disgusting, lovey-dovey facebook statuses about the amount of minutes they've been dating and how the world wouldn't spin if she didn't have him.

And doesn't it just drive you crazy?

My sophomore year of high school I was surrounded by girls who thought that having a boyfriend was everything and it was the topic of conversation that just wouldn't die. I didn't realize how unhealthy this environment was for me until later, but I resolutely decided on my own that I was not going to talk like they did and I was perfectly happy on my own. I've been that way ever since, and though a couple boys have come and gone and I have enjoyed it immensely, I've made sure not to fall into the 'Clingy Trap'.

It happens on both sides. Boy must spend every moment with girl. Boy must know all guys that girl talks to. Girl must spend every moment with boy. Girl must monitor boy's text messages. Everyone around boy and girl gets frustrated and annoyed and many times boy and girl end up driving each other insane. It's a vicious cycle. So why as couples do we repeat it so often?

I've come to find that this issue changes with age, which is an encouraging model. But that doesn't change the fact that I continue to watch this happen and groan every time.

The complicated world of love and dating, which I will continue to post facets of, is hard enough without us continually screwing it up. We spend enough time trying to figure out what to do without having to deal with clingy friends, clingy boyfriends, and even being clingy ourselves. Nobody wants to go out to dinner with a group of friends and have the couple at the table start nibbling opn earlobes and swapping spit. Isn't it enough to have it sometimes as opposed to every waking moment?

Why must we do this to ourselves? Why must we put ourselves through it and why must we make others watch? From experience, clingyness just ends in disaster, so why bother?

Essentially, I think we just can't help it. We get sucked into things and don't realize the bad until it starts to crumble. And you know what, in a sense that's okay. Because I'm a big believer in that fact that we live and we learn.

So ladies, and if there are any genteleman possibly reading my blog, let's live and learn.

And let's keep the negative connotations of 'clingy' in mind the next time that barista at Starbucks finally asks us out.

--Rachael