So since no one really seemed to have any input on what I blog about, or where, I’m just going to write about what I have been wanting to write about for a while. For a long time I tried to keep this blog mainly about social media and online tools, and while that is still a huge part of my interests, lately I’ve been wanting to talk about something that is very different. That is, food.

A few weeks ago I posted on my tumblr that I was tired of feeling overweight, and that I was ready to do something about it. I put myself on a healthy diet that consisted of lots of fresh produce (fruits and veggies), whole grains, and to try and keep all of my indulgences vegan (that has helped me to not fall of the wagon by eating a huge bagel and cream cheese every time I have a bad day). And I started to exercise more (mainly yoga and walking).

I’ve been posting updates on my tumblr about how much weight I’ve lost, and it has really helped me to feel the support of a community who wants you to achieve your goals. So far I have lost 7 lbs! So I wanted to share this with you all so that you won’t be as confused when I start writing about healthy eating, supporting local farms, vegan recipes, etc.

But I know I have to write it.

Over the past 4 months I have been living in Philadelphia, and working for Comcast Interactive Media. I worked on a project producing a series of tutorial videos. It was a very different job for me. There was a lot of managing. Managing people, managing expectations, managing outside agencies… it was a very big project. But my contract is ending on Jan. 15th so it’s on to hopefully better things.

So I had to make a decision, stay in Philly and look for another job, or move back to NYC? After talking with my family and close friends I have decided to do something that I didn’t want to do, but I know I have to do. Go back to school.

When I first started blogging there were 2 things that I worked very hard to keep under wraps.

#1 – that I was still in school

#2 – how young I was

I don’t really remember why I decided to do that, but from my point of view at the time, they were both negative things. I had a number of friends my age who were still in school and also in the social media/ blogging podcasting space, but for some reason whenever they were mentioned, they were always “student bloggers” and in my head that sounded like it was something less than everyone else. I didn’t think that they deserved less credit because they were young, or still in school. I also feel like the “student blogger” was being put in a box. It became a specific category that I didn’t want to be a part of. The age thing I always wanted to keep under wraps because I wanted my work to speak for itself.

I have very strong opinions about higher education. I don’t like it, I didn’t think I needed it, and I think the whole system in general is broken. I’ve written a little about education before. Once I had finished 4 years of school, I was done. I didn’t graduate, I just couldn’t take it anymore, I didn’t see the point. But while I still feel this way somewhat, I have decided to go back to school and finish my degree in Media Studies.

I can only hope that this doesn’t set me back career wise.

So…now that I got that off my chest, I’m moving back to NYC and I’m looking for a job. Not an internship people, I might be going back to school, but I don’t think that takes away from my level of experience. Ideally I would like to find some work in community management, social media consulting (I know I hate that term, but there is not other way to put it) Something that doesn’t require me to be in an office all of the time (since I will have classes, etc)

If you hear of anything, please let me know.

I wanted to thank all of my friends and mentors for being so great and supportive to me with this decision.

Some of you may know that I went to school for photography. I have been obsessed with it since I first entered a darkroom in high school. I loved film photography and how quickly you could forget all of your troubles in the darkroom.

I would spend hours shooting and developing. But when I got into an art program, reality set in. I was going to have to start shooting digital. At first I really hated digital photography. I felt like I had to relearn everything about my camera again.

No longer did I only have 36 frames to get the shot in, I had an unlimited amount. No longer was I waiting till I pulled the film out of the canister to see if I got the shot, I could see right away. Sounds like it would make it easier doesn’t it? In fact it made me sloppy. I trusted the camera too much instead of trusting my instincts and what I know the settings should be. Everything looks in focus on that tiny screen, but when you get back to the computer you can see it wasn’t really in focus.

I feel in love with digital when I was in a photography program in Florence, Italy. For the first time my digital pictures weren’t just images on a screen, but I could print them out, hold them up, step back and take a look. The same way I would after I printed something in the darkroom.

When I came back I started doing some work as a freelance event photographer. It was hard at first but a had a good run of weddings and events. I don’t think i have touched my digital SLR in a long time. And I miss it. So I thought I would share with you some of my favorite photos that I have taken.

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