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Thursday, February 6, 2020

In Which I Become Obsessed With the Dolly Parton Challenge

Dolly Parton ChallengeVery important question on this Thursday afternoon, friends: Did you do the Dolly Parton Challenge?? I’m pretty sure you did, considering everyone from your neighbor to celebrities were glued to their phones selecting just the right photos of themselves…

I’m totally guilty of being utterly obsessed with this fun internet sensation!! You all already know that I do tend to become obsessed with things pretty easily — lip balm, dinosaurs, Matthew Gray Gubler. You get the idea! So when I heard about this new-fangled challenge all the cool kids online were doing, well, I just couldn’t resist joining in all the merriment and fun and shenanigans. Of course, leave it to the Lady of Cool herself, Ms. Dolly Parton, to be the one to start the trend. Last month, she posted the memorable meme, which contained four “versions” of Dolly — LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and Tinder — complete with the caption “Get you a woman who can do it all.”

It was such a clever nod to the different versions of ourselves that we present to the world. We humans are a complex creature and there are so many sides to our personality, you know? All it takes is a few swipes through your camera roll to see just how versatile and unique you really are — there’s your professional side, your family side, your fun side. All those sides add up to make you, well, YOU. I love that we have places online where we’re able to show off those many sides and be who we are.

Dolly Parton ChallengeIt took me awhile to decide on the right photo for each “version” of myself, but I’m pretty in love with how mine turned out. What can I say?? I’m a very versatile lady!!! Which version of me do you like best?? Keep in mind that I’m drinking Mountain Dew in the Tinder photo, so you know I’m WILD.

Plus, here’s something extra to make you smile: I did the Dolly Parton Challenge for my mom!! Personally, her carefree Instagram look is my favorite!! And, yes, as you can see, I’m having way too much fun with these!!! Somebody stop me!!

Dolly Parton ChallengeYour turn: Did you do the Dolly Parton Challenge? What is your favorite aspect of your personality? Are you more Instagram? More Tinder? Or somewhere in the middle?? I’d love to see your photos, so drop them in the comments! xoxo

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3 Comments Filed Under: Entertainment and Media, inspiring women, music

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

Forget Those “Best of 2019” Lists: Why 1999 Was Really the Best Year In Pop Culture

1999 1999I can still remember the first time I heard the unmistakably, now-iconic opening hook of Christina Aguilera’s Genie In A Bottle: It was a hot summer day in 1999 and I was swimming lazily at the local pool. I heard the song blasting from the radio next to the lifeguard chair and, honestly, the song was like nothing I’d ever heard before — the double punch of sass and confidence practically broke through those radio speakers and found its way right to my heart. Maybe I’d just swallowed too much chlorine, but it was all intoxicating.

It was right then and there, friends, that I knew I’d never be the same again.

Prince once sang about partying like it was 1999. Even way back in the ‘80s, he was onto something. And around this time every year, as all those “Best of…” lists start making the rounds, I’m reminded once again of one true fact…

1999 was truly the best year in pop culture!

Yes, it’s time to put away those lists that extol the best memes of 2019 and the best YouTube video of 2019 and the best binge-worthy TV show of 2019. Yeah, this year did have its moments, like those sultry and steamy duets from the likes of Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper AND Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello, but quite honestly? The last 20 years have mostly fell flat on the Wow-O-Meter. I mean, when you’re up against the dawning of a new Millennium, it’s really not a competition!

1999As a self-described Older Millennial, I know exactly what I’m talking about!! I was born in 1981, so my coming-of-age coincided with the ‘90s coming to a close. Spaghetti straps and body glitter were all the rage and everyone worried about a little thing known as Y2K, but there was a certain energy to 1999 — and that was even before people became obsessed with healing crystals and Mercury Retrograde!!

And perhaps nowhere is that exuberance and energy more apparent than in the pop culture from that year — everything from music to movies to our favorite TV shows!

Britney! *Nsync! The Backstreet Boys! Dawson’s Creek! Buffy! The Matrix (the original)!

Yes, 1999 had it all.

Remember the days of racing home to watch TRL and see if your favorite video nabbed the #1 spot? How about those nights of watching The Real World when the show was actually groundbreaking and really delved into the issues of the day? Or what about holing up in your room with the newest issue of YM magazine, making sure to take every last quiz even if the topic didn’t apply to you?

Yeah, I know. Because I did all those things too (hi, “Which Dress Should I Wear to Prom?” quiz!) and looking back now, I don’t think I realized just how much those times would mean to me in, say, 20 years. Sure, life seemed so simple and (sometimes!) boring back then, but 1999 was such a trendsetting and revolutionary year, especially when it came to young women like Britney and Christina! They were powerhouses and I love how they both spoke out when people tried to pit them against each other. It was the epitome of Girl Power; I was there for it then and I’m still here for it now!

1999 Of course, there’s no denying the effects nostalgia plays in all of this, you know? We all tend to look back on our childhood with this sense of wistfulness — don’t we all yearn and long for a return to a simpler time and place? I know I do. But still, I’m all for romanticizing the past in this case because, like I said, 1999 was downright epic!! It was full of awesome and no one will EVER be able to convince me otherwise!

What do you think? Do you have fond memories of 1999? What’s your all-time favorite year? As we say goodbye to this year, let’s reminisce about years of yore, shall we…?? xoxo

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2 Comments Filed Under: Entertainment and Media, music, TV

Monday, December 9, 2019

In Which I Make the Best of the Year List on Twitter

TwitterHow is your Monday going, friends?? I was all set to post the first installment of the Holiday Gift Guide and then…well, I got just a little bit sidetracked by the Best of the Year list on Twitter…

Why, you ask??? Because Yours Truly is ON IT.

OMG OMG OMG OMG

Nothing like finding out you made the coveted “19 of 2019” list on Twitter to turn your Monday frown upside down!!!

I’m speechless. Again. I feel like I’ve been saying that a lot over the last three months, but it’s the best way to describe the swirl of emotions I’ve felt since September. And seriously, I never win anything!! In fact, I’d be more likely to end up on a Worst Dressed list than any kind of Best list!!

Nonetheless, this was quite a nice surprise — and one I’m very honored to receive!! Because, really, it just reaffirms social media’s power for good. We like to criticize social media. We’re quick to say it’s nothing more than a cesspool of negativity and bullies and believe me, I know all about its dark side — I mean, that’s precisely why my tweet went viral in the first place.

So, yes, there is far too much hate on social media. But there’s also good. There are people who are genuinely kind and decent and caring. Granted, their voices are usually overshadowed by the loud voices of trolls, but I promise you that the good ones are out there. I even wrote my essay for Canada’s Local Love about those very people…

There will always be dark corners of the internet, but that doesn’t mean we can’t all play our part in making it a brighter and safer space. That could mean something as simple as giving someone a positive shout-out on Twitter, sharing a good-news story or sparking a respectful conversation around an issue that matters to you.

As so much of our socializing migrates online, we all need to think about building strong and positive online communities. And just as IRL, that means treating others the way you’d like to be treated. That might sound like overly simple advice for our sophisticated technology-based times, but as we hurtle from one iPhone upgrade to the next and the range of social platforms out there expands at a dizzying pace, one thing remains constant: We’re all still humans behind our devices, and we all feel and function better when we choose to be kind.

Indeed, we’re all human and a little kindness can go a long way in these glued-to-our-iPhone times. And speaking of our iPhone, my mom is always saying that I spend too much time on social media. I’ll be reminding her of this tweet every day for all of eternity now!!

As always, THANK YOU for the overwhelming support, friends!! I’m beyond thrilled that I’ve met so many awesome people — all because of some not-so-awesome people. Isn’t it funny how life works sometimes?? xoxo

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4 Comments Filed Under: Disability, Entertainment and Media, Inspiration

Friday, December 6, 2019

Have a Spectacular Weekend

Spectacular WeekendHappy Friday, friends!!! Is spectacular weekend too over-the-top and extra? I mean, we all know just how much I struggle with this time of year, so maybe I’m just overcompensating here? Either way, what have you got planned this spectacular weekend? I’m excited to start the 2019 Holiday Gift Guide next week, so be sure to check it out!! I hope you all have a relaxing weekend and here are my favorite finds from the wonderful Web…

These moon stamps came out earlier this year to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the moon landing, but HOW cool are they??

10 new dating behaviors.

OMG, I want this Big Bird shirt!

I love these captions on classic paintings, don’t you?

Interesting: The gender politics of bangs!

Shoe designs to represent all 50 states. What does your state look like?

And, check out these great pieces by awesome women writers…

*”On Accepting Rejection”

*”What I Found When I Finally Went Home”

*”This Is What No One Tells You About Getting (And Having) Herpes”

*”The Highwomen Are Revolutionizing Country Music”

*”My Husband And I Have A Great Marriage But We Still Go To Couples Therapy. Here’s Why.”

*”This Is What It’s Like to Live With Paranoid Schizophrenia”

And as always, feel free to connect with me on Pinterest, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Bloglovin! See you there, friends! And enjoy the cool weekend! xoxo

[Bottom photo via Unsplash]

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5 Comments Filed Under: Entertainment and Media, link love, round-up

Monday, November 18, 2019

Two Months Later: Why Did My Viral Tweet Resonate So Much?

My Viral TweetLife is so strange and magical and unpredictable, isn’t it? I’ve been thinking a lot about my viral tweet lately and can’t help but wonder: What was it about that one tweet that resonated so much? Like, I just randomly posted that tweet on a Saturday night and I never expected any of this to happen AT ALL.

I wrote about the beauty aspect of it in this essay for HuffPost Personal, but I think there’s more to it than just that. Y’all know I’ve tweeted A LOT (42K+), so why that tweet? I’m so happy people have embraced and related to the tweet, but it really made me realize how wild and unexpected life can be!

I used to hate the unexpected, but you know what? If it wasn’t for this unexpected tweet, I wouldn’t have met so many AMAZING people over the last two months!! So many people who I now consider friends and I am so grateful for that!! Thank you for the emails, tweets and outpouring of love!! Thank you for being you!! And thank you for your beautiful selfies!! What an incredible journey this had been!!

My Viral TweetAnd speaking of photos, I had a HUGE revelation recently: I rarely post photos that show my wheelchair and that made me a little bit sad, especially since my wheelchair is such a part of who I am.

So that’s why I’ve chosen this photo as my new profile pic on social media. I mean, the yellow flowers may have swayed me too, but I love how my entire wheelchair is on full display…

As a woman with a disability, I’ve struggled for a long time with self-confidence, body image and just being OK with myself. It hasn’t been an easy journey, but it’s something I’ve tried to work on. We all have things we’re self-conscious about and mine just happens to be a very visible disability. I’m not sure the journey will ever be complete for me — maybe something like self-acceptance and self-love doesn’t have a finish line? Maybe it’s a lifelong process.

Can you relate, friends? What have you struggled with when it comes to self-esteem, self-confidence and self-love? Let’s support each other! And as always, thank you for all the support for my viral tweet… xoxo

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4 Comments Filed Under: Disability, Entertainment and Media, Love Lessons

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So About What I Said is a daily blog that covers relationships, disabilities, lifestyle and pop culture. I love to laugh and have been known to overshare. I also have an unabashed obsession with pop music, polo shirts, and PEZ dispensers. Read more...

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