Summer’s Best and Bummers

With my summer vacation quickly ending, I’d like to recollect on some of what I’ve done. Here’s some of the interesting/fun things I’ve seen this summer:

* A Coney Island Freakshow (or is Sideshow the politically correct term?)
* The musical “Hair”
* “Legends” – an impersonation show in Atlantic City
* Maroon 5 and Train concert at Jones Beach

Coney Island Freakshow – I’ve been to Coney Island a handful of times since I’ve moved to the city and usually cringe when the mention of riding the Cyclone is brought up. This time, we walked by to see how much the infamous, world-renowned sideshow was (a whopping $10, but they’ll knock it down to $5). The guy selling the tickets will even convince you to purchase by sticking an old fashioned nail about five inches long allegedly from the Byzantine Empire up his nose  (to give you a preview of what’s inside).  The show operates on a continuous rotation – you walk in and leave once you’ve seen the act you originally walked in on. With audience interaction (including my brother’s girlfriend being put into the electric chair), there’s something scary/mystical/gross/mindboggling/fun for everyone!

“Hair”- There’s been so much talk at Pace U about how good this Broadway revival is, so once I had the opportunity to see it, I did. I’ve never done drugs in my life and don’t plan on it either, but if God himself came down and said “Kaitlynn, you need to do LSD right now or you’re going to die,” I would have to see Hair right afterward because only then would I think I would understand it. Everything in the show was loopy and lacked structure. By far, this has been the worst show on Broadway I’ve ever seen and do not recommend it to anyone.

“Legends”- After hitting the casinos and boardwalk, we saw this show at Bally’s in Atlantic City. Figuring that Atlantic City is mini-Las Vegas, seeing a famous impersonation show was necessary. Surprisingly, it was very good! Favorite acts of mine included Madonna and Frank Sinatra. Also, I found it amusing that there was a ton of use for nun costumes (Whoopi Goldberg’s “Sister Act” appearance and Madonna’s “Home” performance to name a few). The only criticism I had was that Elvis didn’t sing “Jailhouse Rock.”

Maroon 5 and Train Concert- These aren’t my favorite bands and normally I wouldn’t have paid to see them, but I bought tickets for my boyfriend’s birthday since he’s a big fan of Maroon 5 and enjoyed the night with him. Neither of us had been to the Nikon at Jones Beach, but heard that the venue was over the water. It was the perfect summer night to have a concert, the bands were good (even though Gavin Degraw couldn’t perform because some people attached him in New York), and overall a very nice experience. I’d definitely go back there for another concert!

So, what have you’ve done this summer?

Dinner & A Movie Made Simple Because of AMC Dine-In Theatres

The classic “dinner & a movie” is made easier with the creation of AMC Dine-In Theatres. With three nearby locations in New Jersey (Menlo Park, Bridgewater, and Essex Green) and only six other locations nationwide, the new concept is sure to become popular throughout the country (especially with the increase monthly subscription price for Netflix). AMC Dine-In Theatre was the best $15 spent this weekend!

My boyfriend and I finally decided to see Horrible Bosses (very funny by the way) at the AMC in Menlo Park Mall. Two options were presented when buying our tickets: Fork & Screen or Cinema Suites. Fork & Screen featured casual dining, while Cinema Suites offered a premium dining experience exclusive to those 21 & over. Since we both just turned 21, we paid a whopping $3 extra for the Cinema Suite to make ourselves feel like movie stars.

When purchasing tickets, you also choose what seat(s) you would like to reserve in the theater. We arrived a little bit early, got carded while walking in to ensure we were 21, and made our way to theater 11.

There was no stadium seating, but instead, featured Homer Simpson’s dream: giant leather recliners across the room big enough to fit a man with a giant Duff beer belly, flat/carpeted floor, and enough space between the aisles to roll around (literally). We were searching for seats F1 & F2 and realized that at the beginning of each aisle, there was a carpet square marking the row – very chic, not tacky.

Once we found our seats, we sat simultaneously, turned to each other, and went “These are soooo comfortable!” We wallowed in this luxurious state for about a minute until a waitress came up to us to see if we had a chance to look over the menu yet.

The marble-esque tray attached to the recliner and pivoted to the side held the menu. Between the two seats on one side, there were cup holders. On the other side, there was a call button to access your waitress anytime during the film, along with a set of utensils with a cloth napkin, individual salt and pepper shakers, and ketchup.

The menu featured a variety of items, all reasonably priced (not typical for a movie theater). It featured everything from normal movie snacks, to burgers and pasta, along with a variety of alcoholic beverages as well. Being that we were newly 21 and fascinated with this movie theater, we bought the popcorn (only available in one size, but came with unlimited refills) to share, a strawberry margarita for me, and a beer for my boyfriend.

The margarita and beer came out extremely fast and were delicious! Any place that puts sugar on the rim instead of salt is a keeper. The popcorn came out in a large ceramic bowl that was about as large as my arms in full-circle. Trust me, there was no need for refills and it was a bargain compared to typical popcorn prices.

The movie started and all was well. We didn’t need anything additional, but those who did need something weren’t bothersome or even noticeable. Because of all the space in the theater, no waiters or waitresses got in our way of enjoying the movie.

Into the movie, waiters and waitresses brought over samples of new creations AMC is considering to place on their menu. We received a candy popcorn creation, covered in white chocolate and sugar for free.

Our waitress towards the end of the movie gave us our bill, which was surprisingly cheap, and we paid when we were ready. Soon after, individually wrapped moist towels (REAL terry cloth, not that crap they give you BBQ joints) were distributed to everyone. Am I in Buckingham Palace?

As if that wasn’t enough, when we left the theater, a friendly staff stood outside giving salutations while handing out dark chocolate Ghiradelli squares with white mint filling.

Theater 11 at Menlo Park AMC, you officially have my heart. I normally don’t enjoy movies (mostly because of my short attention span), but the experience was so cool that we plan on going back frequently.

Green Lantern Coaster: New Stand Up Sensation

Adrenaline, screams, and thrills on your summer to-do list? Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, NJ certainly takes the crown in the Northeast for rollercoaster enthusiasts, and their new coaster “Green Lantern” is no exception.

Great Adventure is known for its distinct variety of coasters – Kingda Ka as the tallest coaster in the world (458 ft. high) at 128 mph, Nitro as one of the top steel coasters by golden ticket standards, Batman the Ride’s infamous inverted experience, and now the park makes its debut with its first ever stand up thrill with Green Lantern.

The wait for the ride wasn’t nearly as bad as Superman – Ultimate Flight, only about 25 min. The sprinklers surrounding the waiting line will get you more soaked than Congo River Rapids, which is nice on a 90 degree day in July. The line itself moved quickly, as there was an additional waiting line for single passenger riders that ride operators delegated efficiently.

As for the ride, it was fun with a few flaws. As a tall girl (5 ft. 10in.), I was worried about the standup seating: Would I be too tall? Would my boyfriend fall out because he is short? What if you’re a tall man with huge shoulders and can’t get the harness over you? My curious worries subsided once we arrived at the platform. Everything was adjustable – the height, the piece that went between passengers’ legs, the harness itself, etc. Everyone had a customized seat that was stabilized.

I’m not one to get scared on coasters, but once we pulled away from the station and started ascending on the lift hill, I wanted off. There was an uneasiness of whether or not the ride was actually safe. All of your blood pressure goes directly to your feet as you’re trying to hold onto the handles on the harness and pull yourself up. You’re heavy and feel as if you’ll fall out, and the ride hasn’t even REALLY started yet.

Once at the top, you turn slowly as if it is time to face fate. We sat in the last row to get ultimate speed since the ride didn’t look very fast in the preview videos.

The first drop leaves you catching your breath – it’s a fun free for all from there.

You feel as if you’re flying (definitely more so than Superman – Ultimate Flight) because of the angles of the turns and flips. I didn’t see anyone put their hands up the entire ride, more than likely out of fear of falling, but overall it had good speed, great lifts and turns, sometimes feeling as if you’re walking high speed over the ground.

Surprisingly, the acceleration of the ride makes you forget that all the weight is on your feet until you’re waiting to get back into the station as the other car is the loading.

Green Lantern isn’t one of my top 5 coasters, but it’s definitely a unique experience because of the stand-up aspect. It’s fun, your feet will feel numb afterward, and if you’re a guy, you’ll end up “adjusting yourself” a million times (as at least five shouted out as they were exiting).

Young Professional Online Networking Mistakes

In a slew of seeing so many peers on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Tumblr, WordPress, etc., there are some who are making not-so-smart choices in an attempt to further their careers. By no means am I even close to being an expert, but most of what I’ll mention is common sense and can help you become a more competitive and professional candidate.

Here are my top no-no’s for promoting yourself professionally…

PROBLEM:  Having multiple Twitter accounts
There’s been an increase trend, especially on my feed, of young professionals having two Twitter accounts (one each for professional/personal purposes). It’s a good concept, but when someone is looking at your oh so professional Twitter, where you’re viewed as an intelligent young adult re-tweeting thought provoking articles relative to your field, your personal account pops up at the side showing your picture. It’s like showing two identities, some of which are alter egos.
SOLUTION: This two-different-lives concept only works on Facebook because of more controlled privacy settings that can make your private account unsearchable to potential employers. If you’re going to have two separate accounts, create a fake name and don’t have a picture of yourself on your personal account.

PROBLEM: Having a professional Facebook account and not having your personal one set to private/unsearchable
I admit it, I have had Facebook accounts specifically because the job required it.
SOLUTION: With that said, make sure your personal account is unsearchable so that potential employers/clients  won’t get 1) confused, or 2) too curious. It seems as if you’re hiding something if people know more than one searchable account exists.

PROBLEM: Recommendations for the sake of having recommendations
This has been brought up in conversations quite a few times, but it’s seems petty priding yourself on recommendations you’ve received from your peers and placing them in the recommendation section of your website, portfolio, LinkedIn, etc.
SOLUTION:  Have one or two recommendations from the professionals who have managed you directly, only. Co-workers or someone in a position higher than you but didn’t manage you really carries no weight.

PROBLEM: Posting your marital status within an introductory bio
This is irrelevant and you should be highlighting your other strengths within those areas. No one is going to say “I’m hiring her because she is married” – they’ll hire you for other reasons.
SOLUTION: No need to waste the space. You don’t have too long to catch potential employers’ attention, so highlight your skills instead.

PROBLEM: Typos in professional headlines on LinkedIn
SOLUTION: Double check before posting

PROBLEM: Creating a tag line for yourself
Yes, that would be clever if you were a product instead of a person. It makes you look conceded.
SOLUTION: In my opinion, you should market yourself well enough to not have to include it.

The reason I am mentioning the above is because they are frequent mistakes that are becoming more prominent as so many of my peers get closer to graduating . Most young professionals will screw up at some point, including promoting themselves poorly and unknowingly online, so it’s better to find out what you may be doing wrong by reading a blog post instead of having a potential employer criticize you for it.

Rapture Bucket List or Summer To-Do List?

I’m preparing myself for this ridiculous “rapture” that is set to hit in less than an hour, so I figured I would write myself a to-do list for the rest of the summer (or incase that crazy man who came up with the rapture idea is correct, my bucket list).

1. Get a REAL job! At the beginning of the month, I ended a great internship, which has really inspired me to get a head start on my full-time career. Also, school is boring, so I’ll be taking online classes again to free up my schedule.

2. Get A’s on my two online summer courses and raise up my GPA – yes, I am a smart tart.

3. Perfect my portfolio. So far, I have compiled and created a small portfolio (still in the process of putting the finishing touches on it before I can post). I managed to get done what I have so far in 2 short days, so it won’t take long to get it where I want it to be.

4. Revamp this blog, yet again, seeing as how a lot of my pictures show me with red hair. I’ve gone back to brown thank you very much.

4. Finishing decorating this lovely apartment.

5. Remember to water my plants outside so they don’t die, again.

6. Actually relax ☺

Extreme Home Makeover: Kaitlynn Edition

Trading Spaces used to be the coolest show ever and I kind of feel like revisiting that old obsession in my life again.

After recently moving into an apartment, I’ve been stuck on how to decorate our bedroom. The bathroom was a simple fix. I already had a “sophisticated” shower curtain and matching bath mats, aka one that isn’t plastic.

The kitchen is slowly being made up into a Candyland – Retro paradise: red 50s table set and chairs (pictured right), red and white polka dot valances, candy everywhere (naturally), a giant Candyland area rug, etc. Soon, I’ll have a gumball machine and retro tin signs of candy advertisements to complete the look.

The living room, courtesy of my boyfriend, is New York City themed: black and white photos of the city that I miss so much (even though we’re really not that far away in Staten Island and I’m there most weekdays), leather furniture, and a sleek desk, television stand, and coffee tables. I’d like to create some sort of art work using old Metrocards, so please hand over your spares. It’ll be greatly appreciated.

Now that leaves the bedroom – Oh where to start? We can’t find a pair of decent / reasonably price dressers that don’t look like they are made out of ply wood. We bought cute grey-ish organza like bedding with a print of branches with leaves that are embossed in velvet (pictured left). We found the curtains to match and black and white flower pictures to hang over the bed…and for once in my design savvy head, I’m stuck. What else can I do for the bedroom?

Any ideas?

You’re late, you’re late, for a very important date!

Whenever I’m having a really lousy day or just need something to scream out “Hey Kaitlynn! I think you’re awesome!” (Don’t deny it, sometimes you need to hear it, too), I usually go out and buy a delicate little cupcake to munch on.

It’s really amazing how a miniature cake with some sprinkles can turn a frown upside down and make you all warm and fuzzy inside.  Bring me some tea, and I’ll be sure to there with a teapot and collection of teacups for a tea party. After all, what else can make anyone happier besides winning the lotto? That’s right…NOTHING!

So, I decided that every month, I would like to experiment with the oven that I’m not used to having (Oh, the joys of moving from a college dorm to a real apartment), and bake a batch of scrumdiddlyumptious cupcakes, adorning them with various toppings.

I’m really feeling some mini M&M topped cupcakes right now…

Martha Stewart signing out! xoxo

Moving on up, and not to the east side like the Jeffersons

Sitting here in my room packing every single little thing I own into big brown boxes should really be more emotional, but thankfully, I am really excited to start another direction in life.

Nearly everyone has supported my decision to leave my resident advisor job to pursue other opportunities. If I’ve learned anything from moving on, it’s that the people who care about you do know what’s best for you if you show why it is best for you – they’ll appreciate it, and you’ll appreciate yourself for making the decision.

Sounds a little confusing, but when you make decisions, really think. Think of how it will not only affect you, but the people around you, too. You are a product of the people who surround you, in which you are the starting point. If you don’t advocate for you, then who will? If you are confident in who you are and the decisions you make, others will see this.

Thankfully, everyone did (now I can die happy, obviously).

So as I continue to peel off the massive amounts of chandelier wall decals off this green paint, I’ll remain angry that I wasted money on these stupid decals, but be really excited to redecorate a place of my own – the little starting point of my big person life.

Not the “I’m losing 5 pounds” New Year’s Resolution

Goals for this year that I’ll actually accomplish:

* Try every flavor slush at Sonic and order something else off the menu other than that delicious popcorn chicken
* Always call back my 9-year-old sister’s “really important” phone calls, which are really important to me. I love that kid, even when she always calls me at the same day and time while I’m working.
* Continue to have the most amazing relationship with boyfriend, love of my life, best person ever, etc. <3 (yeah, I’m a sap)
* Do my homework for my online classes since there’s no one but myself to remind me
* Make a gourmet meal with my hot plate and toaster oven
* Go to a teahouse somewhere in the city wearing a pretty dress and my hair curled
* Find the matching teacups to my Alice in Wonderland tea set somewhere online and purchase them
* Delete my Facebook…possibly
* Really start my life (overly cliché, I know!)

Done with college; can I have my dreams come true like Dorothy’s?

College: The place where you meet lifelong friends. Where the “fight or flight” technique really comes in handy with roommate conflicts, bar brawls and the financial aid office. Where you learn so much about the world around you, and about yourself in the process. Where your education is the stepping stone for your future career.  And where you start the rest of your life.

I’ve decided next semester, I will be taking all online courses because I’ve accomplished the above. Even though I’m only a first semester junior, I’ve always had a sense of direction with what I wanted to do with my life and who I’ve wanted to become.

I did the whole independent living / leadership building / get good grades/ learn about myself ordeal early on because I’m a responsible and ambitious overachiever who wanted to get something out of college since I’m paying out of my pocket and refuse to screw it up.

New York City has been a distraction to most of my classmates; they refuse to focus on coursework, dub college as being super hard, and just end up barely passing and don’t care about class because daddy will write a payment check every month to financial aid. Unfortunately, I can’t do that and am thankful because I look at the city as a world of opportunity to do my best in (for more than financial reasons, may I add). 

Now it’s time to take another direction. College, in a way, is holding me back from accomplishing what I have planned for myself. Doing homework is the easy part, as I get that done on my own time; however, the act of going to class takes up my availability from work and trying to get a job or internship (which can lead to a job, obviously) in the field where I picture myself upon graduation (or maybe even earlier).

Regardless, I’m not stupid and still need my degree and have sucked up as much of the college experience as I can and have wrung it out dry. I’m yearning for some sort of stability in my field, or at least the chance to work towards it.

The way I look at it, if you love doing something, keep doing it and keep doing it well. Have your priorities straight (e.g. getting a degree after you’ve already invested thousands) and focus on your goal. The dreams that you dare to dream really do come true if you try your best, but also by making your best part of everyone’s best.

Strive to be part of a workplace that doesn’t look at you as just “insert title here”, but as a valuable member of their company. Same goes for college students; they need to be more than just “the intern”, but rather, part of a team who forgets that they are, really, interns.