dazzling_counterfeit_queen's Xanga

farewell xanga...

Thu, 13 Mar 2008 03:40:17 GMT

xanga has changed so much since i stopped blogging regularly - i hardly know how to work the stupid thing. it took me way longer than it should have to figure out how to even write a post.

i don't think people even read this anymore. this is probably due to my complete lack of blog posts... or because almost everyone has left the xanga blogging community. i grew tired of the complicated xanga setup a long time ago, so i've created a new blog at http://erikabrewer.blogspot.com/ in hopes that i will be inspired to continue blogging in a new venue. i hope that if anyone still reads this, they'll keep up with me over there. RSS feeds make it easy! i think i will still keep this blog in existence (at least for now), although not updated. it's always amazing/amusing/embarrassing to look back over the blogs from the past few years and see how much has changed.

winter skin.

Tue, 08 Jan 2008 03:55:46 GMT

i know this still isn't a "real" post, but... is anyone else having trouble with pesky winter skin? my poor hands are hurting because of the dryness. i thought i would post this potentially helpful article i stumbled upon: "5 steps to healthier winter skin." do you have any winter skin remedies?

this article on when to toss your beauty products is what i was originally looking for. i have seen short lists popping up here and there, but this is a fairly comprehensive list! i've started writing on my makeup, etc. with a sharpie to remind myself of when i bought the products, so i know when to toss them. it might sound expensive to throw your stuff out so often, but the idea of gross bacteria should be enough to convince you to chuck your beloved products in the trash. beauty product provider eyes lips face makes this process a little easier, because you can get brand new quality products for dirt cheap. which makes parting with your favorite (but ancient) eyeshadow a little easier

Friday, December 28, 2007

Fri, 28 Dec 2007 04:46:54 GMT

if you haven't decided on a wall-worthy 2008 calendar yet... maybe you should consider the junky car club's.

great design. great cause. great price.
what more could you want?

[real post someday soon...]

Monday, November 12, 2007

Mon, 12 Nov 2007 19:21:50 GMT

Erika got published on a real (edited) blog? What?!

Turkey-Day Style

Check it out. It's complete fluff, but you have to admit, the placemats really are freakin' cute.

The original read:

Let's face it – Thanksgiving can be a messy affair. Many of us resort to tablecloths that may be a bit outdated (or even tacky) to cut down on the cleanup. The tablecloth tradition has been passed down for generations, since your childhood days of Thanksgiving at Grandma's.

Who said you had to conform to the hideous tablecloth rule? You have better taste than that. Spice up your Thanksgiving table with the Harvest Linen Table Collection. These earth-toned, delicately detailed placemats and napkins are fall-themed, but celebrate the season in a way that will have your female family members demanding, "Where did you get those?"

They're currently on sale, so stock up before you chow down. Even Grandma will be impressed with your sense of style.

Not so crazy about all the added edits. Someday, when I'm an editor, I will do my best to not add in my own voice/opinions/whatever. But until that day, it's how it goes. I'm puuublished!

I'm currently working on a piece for the health section of the website to go up on Wednesday morning. Looks like I'll have two in one week!

Next publishing goal: Relevant.

Monday, November 05, 2007

Mon, 05 Nov 2007 03:07:23 GMT

a response from PostSecret today:

"you will learn how to help yourself.
it will break your heart, and it will make you strong."

what a beautiful reassurance.

Tuesday, October 02, 2007

Tue, 02 Oct 2007 22:36:47 GMT

"I think we've elevated music to a place where it can't bear the weight of what i've asked it to do. It has wound up being the sum total of what we experience and think of worship as. It will fold under the weight. It's a brilliant, beautiful thing to use music, and I think it's maybe even why music exists. yet it can really do damage if that's the sum of what our understanding of worship is."

- David Crowder as quoted in the July 2007 issue of Charisma magazine

i just read that yesterday, and thought that was an awesome quote worth sharing. i think DC's right on.

in less awesome news, i have been feeling sick for over a week. i've been exhausted for no apparent reason, and my throat has been swollen and i've been having trouble swallowing foods i have to chew a lot (like sandwiches) - which is just really weird.

so i went to my family dr. yesterday, then to the hospital and got blood work done (to test for thyroid issues, mono, etc), but the results came back normal. i also went to a gastroenterologist to have my throat checked out. after i talked to the throat doc, she decided she needs to see what's going on via an endoscopy - aka me being put under anesthesia while they stick a camera inside my throat/stomach.

so i'm going under next tuesday afternoon. if you could pray about all this, i would much appreciate it. i would really like to feel normal again!

Sunday, September 23, 2007

Sun, 23 Sep 2007 18:02:00 GMT

i followed in my sister's footsteps and decided to join the photoblog community, seeing as i have access to a nikon D100 this semester and have had the opportunity to take some fun shots. i'm not too sure if anyone reads my xanga anymore, but if you do, you should check out my photoblog

Thursday, September 20, 2007

Thu, 20 Sep 2007 15:45:21 GMT

wow. i've been busy.

the internship with philly mag is going well. jenna, the assistant editor, continually praises my fact-checking and e-mail writing skills. it seems silly, but it's also kind of awesome. i mean, if she likes my e-mails, she'll have confidence that i can write something real, right? ;) we started talking about me pitching story ideas this week, and i already discussed two with her. we'll see how it goes. the idea of finally having something published (even if it's little) is amaaazing.

my four classes will probably drive me insane. my 4 credit capstone is already piling on an absurd about of work. it is going to be a really beneficial experience, and the end product will be that i will have plenty of stuff to show potential employers via the MURL website. but week to week, it is going to be so difficult to find the time to fit it all in. my group and i are focusing on the philadelphia neighborhood of francisville this semester. our latest assignment is to obtain at least 12 audio interviews by this upcoming monday. we were given the assignment on tuesday. isn't that nice?! the interviews need to encompass a "cross-section" of the neighborhood - people of as many different races and ages as possible. the focus is on "then and now" - how the neighborhood has changed.

i'm pretty overwhelmed.

well life, it was nice knowing you. maybe i'll see you again in december.

soul mate.

Thu, 09 Aug 2007 23:29:49 GMT

interesting video from natasha bedingfield (who is apparently a christian). just thought i'd share it for the benefit of my fellow single friends it's kind of sad, but certainly relateable.

what do you think about the concept of "soul mates?"

great divide.

Thu, 02 Aug 2007 04:32:40 GMT