Varsity Voxbox!

I cannot even explain the excitement I felt when I received my first official voxbox - the Varsity Voxbox - in the mail! I came home from class, saw it sitting outside my door, & ran inside to rip into it! 

The contents were all products I was extremely excited to try out and share my opinions on - so that is what I am going to be doing today for all of you!

1. Airheads Xtremes Bites: I think I finished the bag in less than 2 days! I remember eating the full-sized version of this product when I was younger, but I definitely prefer the bites. They are easier to eat, and you get a lot more in the package. A burst of fruity and sour flavors, this is definitely a munchy snack to help you through the long nights of homework and studying. 

2. NYC Big Bold Lip Gloss: Another one of my favorites! I loved the color I received, it was not too dramatic; it was the perfect light pink. You definitely feel the plumping factor when you put this on your lips, they get all tingly! The smell was attracting and it was not too sticky. Overall an amazing product!

3. Kiss Nail Dress: I was definitely excited to try this product! I never tried the nail dresses from this brand; I only ever used the Sally Hansen ones. I received the pink and orange leopard print design! It was a little too over the top for me to place on all my nails at once, so I opted to put the design on my ring fingers and make the rest of my nails a more toned-down color. This definitely worked out great & I received numerous compliments! I cannot wait to try the other designs they have.

4. Tide Pods: If I'm being honest here, I don't do my laundry. I just turned 20 and still live at home while in college - my mom is my laundry person. So she was the most excited for this product because she said it was something she was thinking about purchasing and trying out. She practically ripped them from my hands when she saw it! As far as I know, she loves it! I think she's already gone out and bought more.

5. Clearasil Daily Clear Refreshing Superfruit Wash: This is the one product in the box that I have yet to try. I have crazy-sensitive skin & testing out new face products does not always fair well for me. I definitely want to try it, I'm just a little scared of breaking out! My skin likes to stick with the usual products; it has a balance right now, and I am not ready to mess with that!

Overall, I was extremely grateful to be chosen for this voxbox! I love what this site is all about! You get honest reviews from real people who try them out. I cannot wait to test out more products and give more reviews!



***All products mentioned were received complimentary of Influenster for testing and review purposes. 
***All opinions expressed were my own. 

Back Again!

So I started this blog for one of my communications classes & I sort of forgot about it until now. I think I wanna start it up again though, and start focusing on all the things that interest me. I titled my blog "In My Mind" & I still think it fits! I'm going to be talking about all the ideas that float around in my mind.

I have a ton of varying interests - television, media, fashion, beauty, decorating, design, etc. and I definitely want to delve into those topics throughout my blog posts.

I don't know if anyone is even reading this, but emptying my thoughts and opinions on here is definitely going to be interesting! If you are reading this - thank you! I hope you enjoy what is to come


xoxo 
Kim (:

5 Big Ideas of Advertising

The part of chapter 8 that focused on advertising was a portion I greatly enjoyed. Advertising is something we see around us each and every day. It affects our lifestyles whether we are willing to admit it or not - somewhere along the line some form of advertisement has persuaded you to buy or view something. Here are what I believed to be the 5 big ideas of this chapter:

1. The first idea that stood out to me was product affinity. This, in reality, is the main purpose of advertising. The idea is to get the public's acceptance on a product or message - to have them form a relationship with it as well as the people who feel similarly. With this symmetry comes the pull to make a purchase or take an action. It allows for a strong band of loyal followers to be generated; it makes the audience feel as if they belong.

2. Another topic that caught my attention was when it was speaking about how advertisers capture their audiences. They do this in a number of different ways. For example, one of the most important factors for advertisers is how to "speak directly" to their individual audiences and their desires. It is said in this chapter that people often build up who they are based on what they buy and what surrounds them - it is up to advertisers to unlock this "code" and figure out how to touch upon these hidden desires. They attempt to make advertisements as personal as possible in some situations in order to garner the attention that is required. Another way advertisers build their audiences is through the use of sexual imagery. These advertisements push the limits of culture and often draw in universal appeal. They can be used in a number of different ways that are irrelevant to the subject of sex - such as cultural issues (ex. PETA ad shown in textbook).

3. The idea of narrowcasting is definitely another important one. In today's society, it is incredibly difficult for advertisers to gather their target audiences and truly reach them. By generating more specific messages, they can speak to smaller audiences and provide them will all necessary information. This makes it easier for a connection to be made between consumer and product.

4. Product placement or product integration is something I have been familiar with for quite some time. It is something that not many people notice if generated correctly. Some shows are more subtle in their approaches, but still get it done. With product placement, certain products are mixed into the entertainment - it is being advertised but not in an "in your face" kind of way. This chapter talked about the fact that there are two reasons product placements has become so important over the years. For one, the price of generating television shows has increased tremendously, prompting companies to seek alternate forms of revenue. Secondly, the number of people watching shows on the Internet and DVR - without commercials - has also grown; with product placement, companies are gaining the advertisements that might be necessary for their continued success.

5. Finally, the section that focused on how commercial advertising influences the public was one I found to be of importance. I recently wrote a paper on how movies influence culture, and this section pointed out some of the same ideas. Children are the ones most influenced by what they see. They believe things a lot easier and have a lesser sense of reality than adults. Critics constantly argue the negative way advertising projects the "perfect" women - people are made to believe that in order to be beautiful, it is necessary to look like the people on TV. While meant to sell a product or message, advertisements often give off the wrong one; although not intended, it is an unfortunate occurrence that cannot really be altered.

Print Ads

Advertisements are intended to draw our attention. They are supposed to capture us and prompt us to use a product or make a purchase. Print ads are some of my favorite advertisements; they are creative as well as informative - I definitely have my favorites. In this blog I'm going to provide you with my top 5 print advertisements. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

1. Sally Hansen Salon Effects

I see this advertisement a lot; it is in almost every magazine I read. I love how the image seems as though it is 3-dimensional. The nails look like they are popping out at you - you want to buy these nail designs! Seeing this advertisement so much actually made me purchase them and I think they are amazing! They last so much longer than nail polish and are really simple to apply. This ad is heavy on the creative aspect; it provides information but does not make that information the main focus like some ads do. 

2.  Forever 21 

I love all of the Forever 21 ads in general - I just chose to use this one as an example. This store is definitely one of my favorites and viewing these ads simply spark my interest. The models are always dressed in amazing outfits - some that you wouldn't even think to put together! They give you ideas to create your own outfits based on what you see; they spark that creative piece inside of you. 

3. Juicy Couture "Peace, Love Juicy" Fragrance Ad

This advertisement is yet another one of my favorites. All of the Juicy Couture ads are very regal looking yet young and artistic. This ad draws your attention to the gigantic perfume bottle as well as the elaborate accessories draped all around the model.  It is incredibly creative and filled with the beauty and high-end fashion you would expect from a brand such as Juicy Couture. 

4. Range Rover

Range Rovers - these cars are incredibly desired (especially by me). It is meant to be influential; it is intended to make you want to purchase this vehicle for a gift. The imagery is attention-grabbing. You don't see the background as much as you see the car. All of the Range Rover advertisements seem to be constructed in a similar manner yet they never lose their influence or creativity.

5. Dior Sunglasses 

Dior is yet another high-end fashion brand. This advertisement can definitely attest to that. The model appears to be superior and high-up in society. You want those sunglasses and you want to be her. This advertisement makes you feel as though you will achieve greatness if you purchase these sunglasses. It is simple yet influential and I love it. 

Shows Throughout The Years

Looking back, it is incredible to note the numerous shows that have come about - some have lasted for years and years, while others did not succeed like we thought they would. This blog was meant to continue a video we saw in class that provided us with a history of television. We saw the popular TV shows from the 1950s until 1996, and our task was to continue it to the present. It took a lot of research to figure out the years these shows came about; it brought back a lot of memories of shows I remember watching, or remember seeing my parents watch. I traced back to the year 1997 and listed the popular shows that began each year. So, without further ado, let's begin!

1996-1997

7^th Heaven (WB)

Buffy the Vampire Slayer (WB)

Just Shoot Me (NBC)

1998

The King of Queens (CBS)

Will & Grace (NBC)

Felicity (WB)

Dawson’s Creek (WB)

Charmed (WB)

Two of a Kind (ABC)

Whose Line Is It Anyway (ABC)

1999

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (NBC)

Futurama (Fox)

Third Watch (NBC)

That 70s Show (Fox)

Family Guy (Fox)

Providence (NBC)

2000

Malcolm in the Middle (Fox)

Yes, Dear (CBS)

Boston Public (Fox)

Gilmore Girls (WB)

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (CBS)

Survivor (CBS)

2001

Alias (ABC)

Law & Order: Criminal Intent (NBC)

Fear Factor (NBC)

Crossing Jordan (NBC)

Scrubs (NBC)

Smallville (WB)

My Wife & Kids (ABC)

According to Jim (ABC)

The Amazing Race (CBS)

2002

American Dreams (NBC)

8 Simple Rules for Dating my Teenage Daughter (ABC)

George Lopez (ABC)

The Bachelor (ABC)

Without A Trace (CBS)

What I Like About You (WB)

2003

One Tree Hill (WB)

American Idol (Fox)

The Bachelorette (ABC)

Surreal Life (WB)

Cold Case (CBS)

Arrested Development (Fox)

Two & A Half Men (CBS)

Las Vegas (NBC)

NCIS (CBS)

America’s Next Top Model (UPN)

Hope & Faith (ABC)

The O.C. (Fox)

2004

Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (ABC)

The Apprentice (NBC)

Desperate Housewives (ABC)

Boston Legal (ABC)

The Biggest Loser (NBC)

Lost (ABC)

CSI: NY (CBS)

2005

Grey’s Anatomy (ABC)

American Dad (Fox)

Supernanny (ABC)

Medium (NBC)

How I Met Your Mother (CBS)

Prison Break (Fox)

Criminal Minds (CBS)

Ghost Whisperer (CBS)

2006

Supernatural (WB)

Deal or No Deal (NBC)

The Unit (Fox)

The New Adventures of Old Christine (CBS)

Brothers & Sisters (ABC)

The Game (CW)

Heroes (NBC)

Friday Night Lights (NBC)

Ugly Betty (ABC)

2007

Samantha Who? (ABC)

The Big Bang Theory (CBS)

Pushing Daisies (ABC)

Private Practice (ABC)

Gossip Girl (CW)

2008

Privileged (CW)

The Mentalist (CBS)

90210 (CW)

Fringe (FOX)

2009

The Cleveland Show (Fox)

The Jay Leno Show (NBC)

NCIS: Los Angeles (CBS)

The Good Wife (CBS)

Modern Family (ABC)

Cougar Town (ABC)

The Vampire Diaries (CW)

2010

Hawaii Five-0 (CBS)

No Ordinary Family (ABC)

Body of Proof (ABC)

Blue Bloods (CBS)

2011

Once Upon A Time (ABC)

Pan Am (ABC)

2 Broke Girls (CBS)

Smash (NBC)

New Girl (Fox)

Revenge (ABC)

The Secret Circle (CW)

Awake (NBC)

This is a pretty decent size list, and it is only some of the shows that premiered throughout the years. These are a mixture of shows that achieved popularity, shows that did not, and shows that I greatly enjoyed. It's interesting to see how the focus and plot of shows has shifted from the earlier years; there seem to be a lot more crime and drama shows, as opposed to a ton of sitcoms. Who knows what this list   will contain if I were to continue it in another couple of years! 

5 Big Ideas About Television

Television - a form of entertainment I could honestly not live without. When I think about the shows I watch not being in existence, I actually get really upset. I look forward to watching a set number of shows each week and am extremely thankful for the invention of DVR. I loved reading this section of chapter 6 and learning all about television in its beginning. Here are what I feel to be the 5 big ideas:

1. Similar to the film industry, the television industry has its top competitors/networks. What originally started out as the Big Three soon developed into the Big Four. These networks are still ones we hear of today - NBC (National Broadcasting Corporation), ABC (American Broadcasting System), CBS (Columbia Broadcasting System), and FOX (Fox Broadcasting Company). These four networks have faced competition amongst themselves as well as with emerging cable and satellite stations over the years.

2. I always knew ratings were incredibly important to the success or failure of a television show, I just never knew there was a system created to measure them. The Nielsen Ratings system is used to measure audience sizes; there is a specific way of going about generating of these ratings, but to be completely honest, the whole thing kind of confused me.
Also, coinciding with ratings is sweep week. They are the first weeks of November, March, May, and July. Audience viewership during these weeks is crucial in determining the future of a television series; it is one of the biggest deciding factors in their fate.

3. I may not be the biggest sports fan out there, but it was interesting to read about how it all began. I could not believe that the first events covered on television were boxing and wrestling matches! Also that a baseball game between Columbia and Princeton in 1939 was the first televised sports event! It is crazy to see how sports programming has evolved over the years! These events attract insanely large audiences; people look forward to watching sporting events on their television screens!

4. I must admit, I am a sucker for reality television. The semi-drama and overall entertainment draws me in; it is like my guilty pleasure. The fact that the thought of creating such a genre was developed by a British producer, and in 1996 no less, completely baffled me. I never knew that Survivor was the first reality series (it developed out of Charlie Parsons' 1996 idea).

5. The future of television is one that is completely unknown. With the focus shifting towards the Internet, no one knows what will become of it. This chapter tells us that while NBC is attempting to add the Internet into their focus, CBS is confident that the shows they have on the air will be successful no matter what. I look forward to what will become of television as the years go on. I, for one, am fully devoted to it and don't see myself moving towards viewing over the Internet as a full-time thing. Occasionally, I will watch a show online, but there is something about watching it on the larger screen that makes the storyline all the more powerful.

5 Big Ideas About Film

The film industry is one that completely fascinates me. Learning about how movies are made boggles my mind; I have had the opportunity to work as an extra on a television show and witness the work put into a minute-long scene. If filming a scene that short took nearly 4 hours I could only imagine the difficulty filming a movie brings to the surface.

1. The first idea that sparked my interest in this chapter about film was the beginning of the Motion Picture Patents Company. These film companies basically formed their own little nation, securing their dominance in the industry. They worked together to achieve what they wanted, whether it be resources or more money from producers. Like always, there were some companies that wished to remain on their own. They were known as the "independents" and basically were in charge of the "underground" film industry. The Motion Picture Patents Company attempted to exert all of their energy on getting the "independents" to join their coalition, which in the end, failed.

2. I also found it interesting to read about the majors and minors in the film industry during the Golden Age. While these 8 studios were an incredible part of the film industry all those years ago, their influence and place has greatly changed. Most seem to be either owned by another major company or setting up plans to merge with one. RKO (Radio-Keith-Orpheum) Pictures, which was one of the 5 majors during the Golden Age, does not even exist anymore! This industry is an ever-changing one, and companies such as Paramount, Loew's/MGM, Fox Film Corporation, and Warner Bros. are not as strong and self-sufficient as they used to be.

3. Reading about the different rating systems developed throughout years helps reestablish the fact that things change with time. The world was changing and the need for the Hays Code of ratings was not as necessary as it previously was. In 1968, the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) created the Motion Pictures Ratings System which still protected people from explicit content, but allowed for producers to test certain boundaries and shed light on topics that had previously never been touched upon.

4. Another topic I enjoyed reading about was the influences different countries had on the film industry in the United States. Denmark provided us with the idea of feature-length films, Germany opened up our eyes to the darker side of film (touching upon subjects such as insanity and betrayal), Japanese movies led to the eventual creation of the Rashomon effect which told thriller stories through different characters' eyes, and Italians brought in nonprofessional actors when their stories pertained to the poor classes of society.

5. If it were not for the development of special effects, the movie industry would be completely unlike it is today. The entire system began with a man named Bill Abbott, who created action scale models of items, used special lighting and high-speed cameras, in order to create an amazing film. While I was aware of some of these effects, I did not have knowledge of most of their official names and I enjoyed learning them. When I took a tour of Screen Gems Studios in Wilmington, North Carolina I remember seeing the visual paintings of outdoor scenery behind the sets. Now, because of this chapter, I know that they are referred to as matte shots. It is incredible to see just how detailed these images are - it is as though you are actually looking outside when you look through the window!

Overall, I greatly enjoyed reading this chapter. I love watching movies (and television), and always find myself questioning and pondering what it takes to create one. This chapter allowed me to absorb a lot more information, and also think of new ideas I want to look further into!