I am a person who struggles to find pants that actually fit. They're always too short, too low in the waist, and if I try to solve either of those problems, they end up being baggy and unflattering. I've suffered from this syndrome of sorts for my entire life, and although I've found some fairly decent options, I still lacked pants perfection in my life.
Then, one day, I turned on my TV and Amy Poehler was talking about pants. Pixie Pants, to be exact, from Old Navy. The commercial piqued my interest, (how couldn't it?!) and I ran down to Old Navy right away to see what all of the Pixie Pants fuss was about.
I was overwhelmed by piles of pants in every color and pattern imaginable, and I took an armful to the fitting room. I wiggled into the first pair, and my thought process was something like this:
Could it be?
Do these.....fit?
Where am I?
Is this real?
Once I determined that yes, they did fit, and no, I wasn't dreaming, I skipped over to the cashier with two pairs in hand, and I couldn't be happier that I did. I went a little wild with the patterns, but hey--it's been a long winter. If I'm going to find pants that make me feel this happy, they should stand out.
I got mine on sale for $25 (and got a free white tee with each pair!) but they currently go for $35. My opinion? WORTH EVERY PENNY.
For the longest time, I swore that I would never buy an e-reader. As a book enthusiast and collector, the thought of reading on a brightly-lit device had absolutely no appeal to me. In fact, I distinctly remember teaming up with my mom on the issue when all of my family members started buying them, and I bought her Robert Darnton's The Case For Books: Past, Present, and Future as evidence of my solidarity on the issue.
Well, nearly four years have passed since then, and last week, after more consideration than I am willing to admit, I purchased the Kindle Paperwhite, and I am so, so glad that I did.
The biggest issue for me in my bibliophile life is portability. Sometimes I'm reading something absolutely enormous and I want to take it with me when I'm out and about, but it becomes difficult. And sometimes I'm reading a few books at once, which presents even more of an issue for portability. The main draw of the Kindle was the ability to take my books with me wherever I go, and that's exactly what I've been doing for the last seven days. My Kindle stays tucked in my bag all the time, and I read it on the train, between classes, and just about everywhere else.
One of my biggest concerns before finally taking the plunge was the interface; as an Apple user, I wasn't sure how the Kindle's touch screen would match up to that of my iPhone. I knew it wouldn't be as sensitive and responsive as the iPhone screen, but considering that I wanted the simplest reader with only the reading capability, I didn't think it would matter too much. And now that I've had a week's worth of experience with the device, I can say that it's definitely not an issue. It's no Apple touch screen, but it certainly does the job.
For the price and for how handy the Kindle is, I would say that it is definitely a worthwhile purchase. I will by no means stop buying books, (I love them way too much) but now I have a way to take them with me no matter where I go, and no matter how much space I have--or don't have. Plus, my handy Kindle cover disguises it as one of the vintage books I adore so much!
This is a departure from what I would usually post on this blog, but it is extremely important to me.
On February 20th, Whitney Hardy, a beautiful, vibrant young woman who I've known for years and who recently became engaged to my cousin Dan, was critically injured in a car accident while out for a run in Boston. I received the news late that night in a text from my dad, and to say that I was in shock would be an understatement. The days since the accident have been profoundly difficult for my family, Whitney's family, and for all of the people whose lives she has touched.
Whitney sustained a number of devastating injuries and requires constant care, but we are lucky enough to be able to check up on her daily through CaringBridge, a social networking site that allows friends and family to receive updates about their loved ones during any type of "health journey." Whitney's brother set up the page almost immediately, and what has resulted from it is nothing short of astounding. Besides being able to get up-to-date information about Whitney's condition, the site also allows people to sign a guest book and wish her well. The outpouring of love and support for Whitney has been unbelievable. In ten days, her site has received over 14,000 views, and the number will continue to grow as her hospital stay continues.
In addition to the CaringBridge page, one of Whitney's friends set up a GiveForward page to raise funds for her recovery, and I am brought to tears every time I check it. In just a few days, nearly $40,000 of their $50,000 goal has been reached, as hundreds of people share Whitney's story and generously donate to ensure that her recovery is as smooth and worry free as possible. I have never known a kindness this great; $40,000 is no small sum, and I watched the number climb from zero in the blink of an eye. I've seen people crowdsource for medical expenses before, but it was never something I thought I would experience firsthand. I can now say, with confidence, how thankful I am that these online resources are available not only to aid people in their recovery but also to create a community of loved ones who can be active participants in the process.
Whitney's recovery is more than just a hospital stay now; it is a campaign with its own mission statement, its own hashtag, and its own social media presence:
"As a means to support Whitney, Dan and their families, we are starting the #FightHardy movement and ask for YOU to join us. To date, there has been a tremendous outpouring of love and support for both families. The #FightHardy movement is about ensuring that the love and support of her friends, family and communities continue, unwavering. Above all else, the main objective of this effort is to help the Hardy and Stebbins families focus on what is most important, Whitney’s recovery."
Between the #FightHardy Facebook page and the hashtag on Twitter and Instagram, it is clear to see how many people are standing behind Whitney as she begins to heal.
The power of social media is something I have seen firsthand and it is something that I have learned about in school in various capacities, but its true impact did not occur to me until this beautiful and touching movement unfolded.
Please send positive thoughts to my incredible cousin-to-be.
#FightHardy
