Four Things I Learned When I Unplugged From Social Media For a Week

It goes entirely without saying that social media is very in the forefront. Even if you didn’t intentionally plan to get sucked into the social-verse, you’re here. Whether you were told to join Facebook years ago and can’t let it go, or joined Instagram and Twitter because it’s what everyone else was doing, you’re here. Your presence is noted, and it’s hard to not be on it. It’s where your friends post their funny cat photos, or updates on their life. Sometimes we just reach for it because we’re bored. It almost seems like it’s impossible to live without it. We always talk about wanting to take a break from it, to unplug, but when your phone is right there, it’s hard to turn away.

I went away on a vacation a couple of weeks ago and had no choice but to disconnect as wifi was at an additional cost, and being in a different country would have been costly for my data use. As someone who is in a profession that requires to be on social media, always be looking at it all day every day, I thought it was going to be challenging, but it wasn’t. In fact it may have been the best disconnect I could ask for. So here are some things I learned in the week I was away from social media.

1. It’s not the end of the world
   It may really seem like it, but it’s not. I can really say with confidence that you will be just fine if you’re not checking Instagram every few minutes. It’s okay to not be posting on Facebook about where you are and what’s happening and what you had for dinner. It’s okay to leave the opinions off Twitter for a bit. The world will keep on turning if you don’t turn to your phone.

2. Your brain will thank you
   If you’re anything like me, you get stressed by some of the things that come up on social media. Working in the news I’ve seen my fair share of negative comments and trolls. Seriously, hit me with some of the most ridiculous comments you see on a political thread and I can shrug at it because I’ve read the same thing a hundred times already. Taking a break from social media left my brain so relaxed. I could actually breathe a bit and not get so worked up and overwhelmed by what I saw. Instagram is my favourite app, but it might be the worst one as it’s where everyone showcases the best part of their lives. I’ve gone down a comparison rabbit hole too many times to count. So to get away from that nonsense and be reminded that there are better things to put my time and energy towards, it' was refreshing.

3. See what’s around you and enjoy the moment
   More often than not I saw a lot of people on their phones while I was on vacation. Understandable. Some people need to connect with their family, or have important emails they need to attend to. But it’s hard for me to understand why two people, who are together as a couple at dinner at a beautiful outdoor restaurant on a resort in the tropics would want to be on their phone the whole time at dinner. And I mean, the whole time. Like full on eating and scrolling. Call me old-fashioned, but what happened to connecting with people over dinner? Food has always been seen as a way to connect and bring people together, we don’t really need our phones for that, do we? I became really aware that we spend a lot of time on our phones when we’re out to eat at restaurants instead of talking with friends and family. I saw others on their phone while at the beach or scrolling while in the pool. My social detox reminded me to look up and see what’s around me, and embrace the moment.

4. It’ll be there when you get back
   Despite a wonky algorithm, all the posts on social media were there when I got back. Did it take a bit before I felt caught up? Sure, but nothing was gone ultimately. Just because you’re not the first person to like a photo, or to share news as it happens, doesn’t mean it won’t be there when you get back. If you’re as concerned, ask a friend to get you caught up on what happened, or just leave it as it is and consider it a week where you missed out on some things. It is what it is, and you’ll be fine.

If you can, I’d really encourage you to take a break from social media now and then. You don’t need to announce it to the world, just do it when you feel ready to. Either take a break for a day, or if you’re feeling ambitious, a week, or two. Keep the phone numbers, birthdays and emails for those who you want to stay in contact with. Take the extra time to do what you really like and are passionate about, or projects you’ve always wanted to start. Maybe take up a new hobby to fill that extra time. Focus on developing connections with others that don’t require a follow button.

October Favourites

Music

October was an incredible month for music. Some of my favourites released new albums, and although I could easily go on and on about Green Day's new album as I'm sure some of you were expecting, my heart this month has to go to the new Lady Gaga album Joanne. It's been a few year's since Lady Gaga's last album, and although ARTPOP wasn't so well received, it was going to be interesting to see what she would come up with this time around. Joanne is a perfect example that Lady Gaga is always full of surprises because this album is on a different spectrum from her typical electro-synth pop music. Joanne explores a few different genres, but primarily a rock/folk, and even dabbles in country. And although it's weird to hear 'Lady Gaga' and 'country' in the same sentence, she makes it work. Something about the raspy quality of her voice helps to compliment the heart of country music. That said there is still definitely elements of pop contributed, which keeps her realness in tact. 

Makeup

Another praise post of Kat Von D's makeup coming right up. After a Sephora consultation, the beautician suggested I try KVD's Lock It setting powder. This translucent powder is incredible for all skin tones because it's a clear powder. Although the application is a bit of a hassle because it's all powder and it goes all over the place if you're not careful, but the overall look is amazing. If you're picky on shine, there's no sparkle providing an excellent matte finish. Two layers of it will last all day, and it's fantastic with different seasons because it's translucent. Although a little pricey at $40, because very little powder is needed, it's bound to last several months. 

Reads

One of my favourite and most anticipated reads this month was The Girl With The Lower Back Tattoo by Amy Schumer. One of my favourite comediennes, Schumer's book tells about everything in her life up to present. From her beginnings in comedy, to her success with her film Trainwreck and her show Inside Amy Schumer. On top of that, the book deals with serious issues like watching her father's battle with MS and the abusive relationships she's dealt with. Another excellent biography by one of my favourites that I've added to my collection, and one I definitely recommend. 

TV/Movies

This month I feel like spicing things up with the TV/movie segment. Although I didn't really watch anything new in the ways of TV and movies, I did have the opportunity to go to New York City and see a few musicals and a play. One of the productions that stood out for me was a play called Love, Love, Love. The play looks at how a couple who met in England in the 60's experience relationships and marriage in three different time periods; the 1960's, 80's and present day. It looks at their perspectives on love, and as their children get older, their perspective on life and the opposite view points between generations. Directed by one of my favourite directors, Michael Mayer, and featuring an excellent cast including Amy Ryan and Richard Armitage and Zoe Kazan.  

September Favourites

Hi all!

It's fall as heck in Toronto now becuase October is here! And with a new month, it means a new post on favourites. My September was a little crazy, but really awesome, and as usual, here's what stood out for me the most in terms of music, makeup, books, and movies/TV. Here we go!

Music

Many of you may remember Taking Back Sunday back in their early and (very) emo pop-punk days. Songs like Cute (without the E), and MakeDamnSure were stand alone hits, but with their latest effort, TBS have taken a new turn in their music stylings. Their new album Tidal Waves has less of the emo cry, and carries more of a punk rock sound, and it works. Some of the tracks sound similar to The Gaslight Anthem and Against Me! which helps to put Taking Back Sunday in a brand new category. If you're looking for a good and fast rock record, this'd be it!

Makeup

If I could pick one makeup brand to wear for the rest of my life, it'd be Kat Von D's beauty line. Not only are all products in prime shape in terms of colours and applications, but the quality is unbelievable. On top of it all, it's cruelty free. For September, I'm going with her latest release, the Project Chimps everlasting liquid lipstick. This special limited edition lipstick is a gorgeous deep red that is perfect for the fall time. It's not too bright and not too dark, making it ideal for all skin tones. On top of it, all the proceeds go to Project Chimps, a nonprofit organization aimed at making unprecedented advances for captive chimpanzees, providing them with lifetime care in sanctuaries. The colour is available both in stores, at Sephora, and online, but only for a limited time, so be sure to get a killer fall colour AND help a great cause. 

Reads

I had heard a lot of amazing things about this book, but I didn't know what I was getting myself into. Brain on Fire is the true story about Susannah Cahalan, a New York journalist who unexpectedly becomes ill. She begins to experience hallucinations, personality changes, and even forgets basic functions like speaking in full sentences and spelling her name. She sees several doctors and they can't figure out what is wrong with her. Finally she sees a specialist at NYU who does several tests to discover that she has an autoimmune disease, and works with her on her road to recovery. The story is told in first person and chronicles her personal life and how it's effected her friends and family. The book was recently turned into a movie starring Chloe Grace Moretz, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival. Although a challenging read with a lot of medical jargon, a lot of it is well researched and explained thoroughly for those who may not understand a lot of what is shared in the novel. Definitely a compelling read. 

Movies/TV

I know, I know, Parks and Recreation isn't really anything new, but it is always noteworthy. I finally joined the rest of the world and started watching it and I am in love. For those who don't know, Parks & Recreation is about Leslie Knope, the deputy director of the parks department in the fictional town of Pawnee, Indiana, and the various situations and obstacles that happen in the parks department. I was already on board with the incredible cast including Amy Poehler, Aubrey Plaza, and Chris Pratt. As well the creative team is associated with my favourite show (Greg Daniels-The Office) so that was another bonus. On top of that, they both carry a mocumentary style, which is probably one of my favourites. So a win all around. 

I hope you all had a wonderful September, and I'd love to hear about some of your favourites! Let me know in the comments. 

August Favourites

Hi everyone! Another month is done and I have some new favourites! August was really good to me, so I'm excited to share these. Check out all my movies/tv, makeup, reads, and music for the month of August!

Music

Official single artwork for Green Day's 'Bang Bang'

Call me a bit biased, but you know I had to give a big ol' shout out to Green Day this month as my music favourite. The punk rock band from California have just announced the first single off their highly anticipated twelfth studio album, Revolution Radio, and let me tell you, I can't keep my mouth shut about it. It's been four years since we've heard new material from the band, and although their trilogy was a bit of a lack luster, this completely makes up for it. The new single, Bang, Bang, carries a similar sound to their earlier material. The best way to describe it is it's a great mix of Dookie, Nimrod and American Idiot all rolled into one. This is also the first album the band has produced themselves in sixteen years. Revolution Radio is set to be released October 7. 

Makeup
I grabbed a few makeup favourites this month, but the one that stood out the most has to go to Tarte. I've been itching to buy a new eyeshadow palette, but I've been hesitant as I already have several and have barely hit pan on some of them, so I just wanted something small yet practical. In the checkout line at Sephora I saw a mini palette that did just that; Tarte's Tartlette Tease. All of the colours are fairly neutral with one very sparkly shade and a redish shade thrown in the mix. Here's a look at it/some close ups. 

The best thing about this palette is that all of the colours are interchangeable, so whether you just want to wear one shade or do a blending job, all of them will work with each other. The application is very smooth and the colours stick well. Bonus? It smells like candy! Who knew eyeshadow could be functional and smell so good?

Reads

The latest in the Harry Potter instalment- Harry Potter & the Cursed Child

I've had the chance to read some great books this month, but allow me to obsess over one that we all probably saw coming; the new Harry Potter. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Part 1 & Part 2 has been highly anticipated ever since its announcement. Taking place 19 years after the final battle of Hogwarts, the book focuses on the children of the famous trio, (as well as Draco Malfoy's son) as they embark on their Hogwarts journey. My favourite part of the novel was the connection the plot has to the plot of one of the previous Harry Potter novels. Although the book was criticized for not having a similar writing style as the previous books, it's important to take in mind that this was structured for a stage production, and that two additional writers were added to the script. The heart of the story is still there, just a slight change of writing style. Overall, I was impressed and enjoyed it very much!

Movies/TV

Suicide Squad

This month there were favourites from both categories; let's start with movies. I haven't seen any films in theatres in a while, but I was really excited about Suicide Squad. Some of my favourite actors were in the film, plus parts of the movie was filmed in Toronto, which is where I live! It was exciting to see places that I had visited before on the big screen. I'm not going to lie, I did really enjoy it. I think some of the reasons why it wasn't highly praised was due to the constant over-hype, which is understandable. I thought the movie had a good structure, and the cast portrayed their respective character wonderfully. Major props of course goes to Margot Robbie for doing an incredible job as Harley Quinn, and I really hope that a film about her gets further developed. And if you didn't enjoy the film, you'd be lying to yourself if you didn't love the soundtrack!

Stranger Things

As for television this month, I'd be foolish not to include the highly praised Stranger Things. A very Stephen King meets Steven Spielberg sort of supernatural/mystery webseries featured on Netflix. The premises is about how 12-year-old Will Byers mysteriously vanishes. Will's frantic mother (played by Winona Ryder) searches for him with the help of Police Chief Jim Hopper. Will's friends Dustin, Lucas, and Mike meet a psychokinetic girl, who goes by Eleven, and claims to know Will's location. Although only eight episodes, the series manages to capture a lot of suspense and mystery, as well as featuring a killer soundtrack of the likes of The Clash, David Bowie, and much more. It was just announced that a second season is in the works, and no doubt will be just as thrilling as the last. 

Those are my August favourites! Let me know what yours were, and come back again for my September favourites next month! 

July Favourites

Music

It's been a really good spring/summer for music, and July was no shortage. Hands down my favourite for this month has to go to the new album from Blink-182, California. A lot of fans were skeptical about the release of this album, especially given that this is the first time original member Tom DeLonge is not apart of the lineup. However, his replacement, Matt Skiba, has done an excellent job filling in the gaps. Although it is missing that DeLonge accent, Skiba puts his own special spin on his parts. The album itself as a whole is a good pop-punk record. Though a bit polished, there's a great cohesiveness in sound which I think helps to make up for what might be missing to some. Some of my favourite tracks include Cynical, Bored to Death, and Kings of the Weekend. 

Makeup

NYX slim eye pencil in the shade 'Sky Glitter'

As the makeup fiend that I am, it was hard to narrow down some favourites for this month, but I've got two that most certainly stick out in my mind. Both products this month are from the brand NYX, a LA based company where all products are so reasonably priced that it's hard not to buy everything. The first item is the Slim Eye Pencil. It comes in a variety of colours including silver, purple, and yellow, but I opted for the blue. I haven't worn blue eyeliner since I was 13, but it seems coloured eyeliner is back in trend, and since I'm a sucker for such, I decided to see what the fuss was about. The smooth application and its long lasting wear is what definitely stood out the most for me, not to mention the sparkles that come with it.

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in the shade 'Zurich' 

The second item from NYX is their Soft Matte Lip Cream. I've already tried the products from their Lingerie line (which I also loved), but hadn't really branched out to anything else yet. I went for the colour 'Zurich' and was so pleased with its application. It goes on very smooth and stays so even after it dries. The colour I picked is a muted rose shade and is great for everyday wear. When I applied it to test it I was wearing only foundation and some mascara and so with the colour added to my lips it helped to make my eyes pop without the colour being too overwhelming on my face. The best part? It stays on. And I mean really stays on. I had to scrub hard to get it off my lips, so you can check off that long lasting wear box, because it does just that! 

Reads
The Girls by Emma Cline

I don't think I've pre-ordered a book faster in my life than I did with Emma Cline's The Girls. Loosely based off the Manson family and murders, the novel centres around Evie Boyd, a young girl who is trying to figure out who she is at the end of the 1960s. She becomes captivated when she meets Suzanne, a beautiful, yet reckless girl who lives with this group of misfits who are at the control of their leader Russell. Evie goes through various obstacles of trying to remain true to herself while also wanting to live this mysterious life that she's always dreamed of. I read this book in less than a month, and was so enthralled the whole time. There are a lot of twists and turns which furthers Evie's character development. I'd highly recommend this novel if you're looking for that little bit of haunt and mystic, with bits of truth from a real life horror story. 

TV/Movies

I'll admit, I've missed out on a lot of movies this summer, so instead I've been steadily binge-watching everything on Netflix. I'll also confess that I'm behind on having started Stranger Things (I'm getting there though) so instead I've decide to re-watch everyone's favourite mother/daughter pair, (the) Gilmore Girls. With all of the hype about the new reboot coming this November, I thought it would be only fitting that I start from the very beginning so I'll be finished just in time for the new mini series. Something about Lorelai and Rory Gilmore and their life in Stars Hollow makes me so happy and in a place of comfort-a simpler lifestyle, if you will.

Those are my favourites, what did you love to watch, read, apply and listen to? Let me know! :)