On Unfollowing.

There's been a good bit of... um.... political talk lately, right? For the most part, the commentary has remained civil, which is how it should be, because we are all lovely, intelligent ladies in this community, and we all know that there is no need for name calling.

(And to those of you that have resorted to name calling though this process, thanks. It's made it really easy to figure out who I would never, ever be friends with.)

Everyone says they don't care about followers, but most of us care at least a little bit, right? I mean, it's nothing to be ashamed of. It's exciting to know that there are people actually reading your blog. Real live people who don't HAVE to read your blog - they read it because they CHOOSE to. That's pretty cool! I'm humbled all the time that 300ish people read this blog. because it's about 298 more than I ever thought would want to read.

Some people get offended when people unfollow them. I don't (...usually). The best thing about reading blogs is that you're free to fill your Reader with blogs you love... blogs that talk about things that you want to read about. You're in charge of your own Blogland Experience (TM). No one else is.

I think it's totally your right to unfollow anyone you choose. For some people, their blogging time is their time to blow off steam, so they don't want to follow anyone who posts too many serious things, or too many political things. They want to keep it lighthearted and entertaining. Others use their blogs as a means to keep up with current events. Everyone's expectations are different. so naturally, the types of blogs they want to read are different too.

There are a few things that will make me unfollow someone:
1) People who make cracks about poor people all the time. You are insensitive and uneducated.
2) Or undocumented citizens. If you call someone an "illegal" and/or complain about how hard your life is because your taxes go to pay for things for said "illegals", you're out.
3) If you can't use the proper names for things. If you write a sponsored post about tampons, but you can't bring yourself to use the word "period" or "vagina," you should probably reevaluate what you're doing. Also, grow up. Also, it's not shameful to have a vagina. Stop acting like it is.
4) Speaking of sponsored posts: stop doing them for things that aren't applicable to your life. If you're not a mom, don't review pacifiers. If you're not in college, a post about renting your textbooks probably isn't going to work. I know you like the money that comes from a sponsored post (who doesn't, right?), but please don't sell out like that. It makes you seem untrustworthy to your readers.
5) If you're constantly fishing for attention. I won't lie and say I don't like attention. I think we all do, which is why we... have blogs. Right? But if you're constantly posting about how "awful" you look just so people can shower you with compliments, you're taking it way too far. Or "I have a secret, email/call/text/tweet me if you want to know what it is." lol WHAT? I already told you what I think about vagueblogging. Stop that right now.

There are other things that don't bother me that I know bother others... I don't care if you post a zillion pictures of your kids, or talk too much about your church or serving your husband. While all of those things are so different from anything in my life right now, I understand that's YOUR life, and I totally respect that. One of the things I really love about blogging is that it gives me a glimpse into the lives of people whose paths I would NEVER have crossed otherwise. That's pretty freakin' cool.

The moral of the story here is: don't get upset if you lose a few followers along the way. It's all a part of the process. It's not you, it's them. Unless you're doing one of the things I talked about above. In that case, it probably is you.

And if I see anyone else calling someone "ignorant" for their opposing views and getting into a comment war instead of, you know, just unfollowing them, well. I only have one word for you:

So you wanna know more about me?

I pride myself on being pretty transparent on my blog. I try to be straightforward and upfront about who I am, and I think that if you read here regularly, you have a pretty good understanding of who I am and what I'm about. You know that I love coffee, fingernail polish, and technicolor anything. You know what my apartment looks like. You know who my friends are and what I do on the weekends.

But there are things that you can't pick up from a blog, no matter how "yourself" you are. There are always little things about people, the quirky parts of their personality, that you don't get through a computer screen. And it's a shame, because the quirks are what make you relatable and real and adorable and amazing.

(the fact that I'm riding a rhinoceros in this picture is mostly irrelevant. Just go with it.)

1) I tend to speak in hyperbole. Example: "I bought sugar-free pumpkin spice creamer instead of regular. This is a nightmare." (That really happened, by the way. It was awful. Sugar free anything is the devil's handiwork and anyone who tells you different is a liar.)

2) I talk with my hands. Always. I wave them around and carry on and generally make a scene. I've broken things (by accident, of course) because of it.

3) My facial expressions are out of control. I don't have to tell you what I'm thinking because you can always read it on my face. Sometimes, Garrett has to remind me that, um, I don't have my sunglasses on and people can see that I'm giving them the stinkface. (Exhibits A-G)

4) I tap on the bridge of my nose with my pointer and middle fingers when I'm thinking about something. I didn't realize I did it until Garrett and I started dating and he pointed it out.

5) I don't like to have the volume on my TV or my radio on a prime number. Not an odd number, just a prime number. I know. I know.

6) I hate washing dishes. I hate hate HATE it. Because of this, I am a PRO at stuffing as many things as possible into the dishwasher. It is nothing short of a talent and I'm darn proud of it.

7) I say dude a lot. Like... a lot. More than any adult woman should.

8) I hate the words "gal" and "beaut." There's no reasoning here, but if you ever say "She's such a great gal" or "that painting is a beaut!" or "that gal is such a beaut!" I promise I'll be cursing you in my head. Sorry.

9) Germs don't freak me out... at all. If I drop a Dorito on the floor, I will pick it up and eat it 100% of the time. I usually don't use toilet covers or squat... I put my bare booty right on the toilet seat. (Sorry, Mom.) I'll drink after pretty much anyone. (It's worth noting that I almost never get sick. #knockonwood)

10) I drive a 2004 Honda Accord. Her name is Holly the Honda, but I don't call her by her name that often. Really, only when something bad happens. Like 2011, when I got rear-ended by an off-duty police officer. Holly the Honda sustained $1800 in damage. Oh man, what a story.

So what do you think? Are you judging me now? Are you questioning why we're blogfriends? Are you nodding along, saying "omg, me too!" Hopefully it's the latter.

The Sunday Currently

Watching the Panthers, duh. I'm hoping we win, but I wouldn't be THAT sad if we didn't, because I know Adrian Peterson needs some good juju right now, and I've always liked him.

Reading all my magazines that I have to catch up on. I'm hoping to get at least one recipe for the week out of Better Homes and Gardens.  

Looking At furniture on Target.com. I want this and this and this and basically the entire collection.

Smelling clean laundry... lots of it, obviously. I love the smell of clean clothes, but I hate.... everything else that comes along with clean clothes. You feel me?
Ignoring that big pile of Garrett's socks that need to be matched/folded. I hate putting socks together. No thx.

Excited that I made the bed this morning. #itsthelittlethings

Drinking coffee out of my new mug! Looooooove.

Thinking about my posts for the week.... I haven't planned anything, to be totally honest. Whoops.

Excited about the wine and champagne glasses we got yesterday, even though I broke one literally the second I picked it up. Sometimes I don't know my own strength, you know?

How's your Sunday going?

Happy Friday!

First of all, I want to thank everyone for their super-kind comments on my post yesterday. I want to make sure you know that I don't think pink things in themselves are the problem. If you like them, or are comforted by them, then I think they're great. I just don't want anyone to buy a pink blender from Target "for breast cancer." If you want to do something to help, donate. 

I loved reading about everyone's 21st birthdays... it looks like a lot of people had disappointing birthdays. What does that tells us? 1) we put too much pressure on one day and 2) we need to have a massive blate where we all get 21st birthday do-overs. Together. Who's in?!

Who watched Glee last night? Did you think it was as perfect as I did? Because I thought it was an absolutely perfect, well written, flawless representation of how different people grieve. Well done, Glee people. 

Robin Thicke wants to make sure you know that he doesn't twerk. He's twerked upon. True story. Here's conclusive evidence that Christopher Columbus was a jerk. Jon Stewart thinks that certain members of Congress are getting a little bi-curious... bipartisan curious, that is. If you're still super into the 90s like me, you'll love this Saved by the Bell: Today, according to Zack Morris. Too funny.

Alyssa's post yesterday on happiness is seriously my new favorite post on the whole internet. Seriously, what's so wrong with being happy? Do you enjoy live-tweeting your favorite shows? Read this first. Seriously, let's stop blaming rape on social media, and also anything other than rapists. California has passed the only bill all year that expands abortion access instead of restricting it. Good on you, California.

Tonight is the first Friday night Garrett and I haven't had ANY plans since... we moved into the apartment. I have officially found my favorite pumpkin coffee creamer. I have time this afternoon to catch up on all my ridiculous DVRed shows before Garrett gets home. Garrett bought me a new chevron mug this week because he is awesome. The weather has been GORGEOUS this week, so we've been able to keep the windows open. Window-open weather is awesome because our apartment feels great, and also it saves so much money. Win-win, yes?

Happy Friday!!!