Posts filed under 'social life'
Hide Relationship Status Changes. It’s nice that your facebook friends care for you and all, but you probably don’t want to broadcast to them that you and your sweetie of 4 months just split–again. Luckily, you can remove your relationship status from that home-page feed we all watch for gossip.
How To: Go to Privacy > News and Wall Feed > Actions Visible to Friends and uncheck “Change Relationship Status.
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Create (and USE!) Friends Lists. These work just like the groups you can make in your email; you can create a list like “Family,” “BFFs,” or “Co-workers” and change privacy settings for just the people on that list! So no more worrying about not getting in to college because a clever admissions officer checks your profile.
How To: Go to Friends and click Make a New List (in the column on the left). Then start adding friends to the list. You’ll see the lists available in your Privacy settings when you go to customize them.
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Hide Your Contact Info. Even if you don’t want just anyone IMing (or calling!) you, you still have the option of making your contact info available to only a select few (like people from the friends lists you just created!).
How To: Go to Privacy > Profile > Contact Information and start customizing!
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Choose Who Can Tag (& See Tagged Photos of) You. Again, maybe you don’t want to share your weekend in Vegas with all your classmates and co-workers. Start by making sure you are the only one who can see which photos are tagged as having you in them.
How To: To make sure only you can see which photos/videos have tagged you, go to Privacy > Profile > Photos Tagged of You and choose Only Me. Then go to the Networks dropdown list and choose None of My Networks.
To select only certain people who can see these photos, choose Some People instead of Only Me. You can then either enter certain people, or one of your Friends Lists.
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Block Someone. This is just what it seems–it blocks any interaction with another person on facebook. Like the ex who won’t quit writing on your wall that you two are meant to be 2gether 4ever. Block someone and they can’t find you in searches, view your profile, write on your wall, etc. To them, it is almost as if you have no facebook profile. Just keep in mind that they could (obviously) take offense.
How To: Go to Privacy > Block People and enter their name in the “Person” box.
February 28th, 2009
Like it or not, Valentine’s Day always seems to force us to contemplate our relationship status: being single, hooked up, serious, or otherwise. Having spent a good couple years of college being single (sometimes loving it, other times hating it) I thought this week was the perfect time to share a few reasons why being single is awesomely good.
- You Can Learn What You Love. When you’re on your own, you’re completely free to explore your life passions. You have time to indulge in a three hour novella-writing spree at 2 a.m. or take a road trip with your buddies to see the most incredible car museum this side of the Mississippi. And you’ll want to know that so you will make time for that passion when you do get into a relationship.
- You Can Learn How Strong You Are. When my dad was first diagnosed with cancer, I remember my mom wondering aloud if she could make it on her own-she’d gone from living with her parents straight to being married to my dad. She’d never had to cope with tough stuff on her own, so at almost fifty she was still unsure of her own personal strength.
- You Can Make Amazing Friends. Good relationships are wonderful but time consuming. Being single allows you the time and emotional energy to build deep and lasting friendships-friendships that will last even if relationships don’t.
- You Can Make Decisions for You. Being in a relationship means making a lot of decisions as a team, so enjoy the freedom you have to do things your way! Right now you get to choose exactly how to spend your time and money-from studying abroad to taking on a new job to road-tripping with your roommates. And you don’t have to share the remote.
- You Can Test Your Boundaries. Living at home or being in a serious relationship can both affect your ability to learn who you really are. It’s possible, of course, but it’s harder because (I reiterate!) your time and commitment are both more divided. So try new things (legal things, I mean), meet new people, and make big goals. See just how much you are capable of when you let yourself try.
And stop worrying about getting into a relationship if you’re not in one yet! The good ones find you when you’re doing the right things, anyway. 
And as always, please feel free to share your reasons why being single rocks with the class.
photo: lusi
February 11th, 2009
By now most of you are heading back to school, settling into the dorms with your new toys from the break, and if you’re anything like me, you’re feeling a little post-winter-break slump. Sure its great to be back (well, minus the homework bit), but all that bonding with family & friends you did over the holidays might leave you feeling a little lonely.
Make a Skype Date
I have just gotten on the video-chatting bandwagon (I picked up a webcam on a Black Friday shopping trip), and it is so much better than talking on the phone! The coolest part? Motorola has a video phone that costs about $800, but you can get a pretty good webcam for only $30.
Then just hook up to a free service like Skype or Gmail Voice & Video chat and start talking face to face–and don’t forget to make sure you get some face time with Rover if you’re missing your pup! (I was super homesick for my dogs, and I am not afraid to admit it!) Moms & dads tend to be pretty excited about video chat, too–I just showed my dad and he thought it was awesome.
Mail an Old Fashioned Snail Mail Letter
I am a firm believer that a good piece of mail can turn a bad day into a good one–so give someone’s day a lift (and help ensure you’ll get some mail of your own) by sending off a bit of snail mail. Send mom a postcard, write a letter to your BFF during class, or pen a love note to your crush–then stamp it and send it off!
Have a Long-Distance TV Party
Lost of shows are just starting up after the holiday break, but being apart doesn’t mean you can’t watch LOST with your kid brother anymore. Make a phone date and watch together, or if you’re in a different time zone, wait until the next day and log on to the web to watch the latest episodes together. Most TV stations air full episodes on their websites, or you can try one of my new fav sites, hulu.com, which has full TV shows (new and classic) and even full length movies.
How are you kicking the post-break slump? Help me out–I need to do it, too!
a girl with a phone by mzacha
January 14th, 2009
Packing up to head home for winter break? This trip might be a little different than spending a weekend there–so here’s your guide to making it through the holidays!
Prepare Your Parents
Your parents are probably still used to you as their high school student, so the transition to the more independent you that you’ve made over the past couple months may be a little shock to their systems. (I remember my dad asking if he needed to wake me up in the morning–I asked him how he thought I’d made it to class everyday if I needed a wakeup call!)
Make a point of discussing with your parents what they expect. Will your curfew be reinstated (and can you get it moved later)? Do they have family time scheduled that you should pencil into your plans? Is Mom going to be okay with you bringing home all your laundry?
Call, chat, text, or email, but just make sure you all know what to expect to make this visit fun & comfortable for everyone.
Schedule Your Fun
These precious weeks off will pass quickly, so be sure you plan out a few days to fit in those things you really want to do at home (don’t get sucked into using up your whole break on extra sleep and back-to-back sessions of Guitar Hero!)
So schedule a lunch meeting with your friends from high school, make time to play soccer with your little brother, and choose a day to get those last minute gifts bought and wrapped!
Make Some Cash
A few years away from home have probably opened your eyes to the expenses of independence, so take advantage of this homework-free time and earn some money! Check out this article I wrote about how to make money over winter break and my boss’s 5 ways to earn cash for college over at our sister site, the Pay for College Blog.
Re-stock for Next Semester
You know how you forgot your Foo Fighters CD, ate all of your Easy Mac, and just realized how badly you need that coat in the back of your closet at home? Well now is the time to re-stock for your next stint of school! Gather everything you need (and ask mom for help with that Easy Mac dilemma–they have a huge case at Costco!) and get packed up to go back well-prepared.
Happy Holidays–enjoy the time off!
photo: Suitcases by bb_matt
December 16th, 2008
With projects, midterms (or ugh! finals!!!), and plenty of studying, November can be a little exhausting–so why not loosen up with a little shindig with your nearest and dearest? Snatch up these ideas for an evening with your closest gal pals or a smashing boys night.
For the Guys
- LAN Party. If you and your boys are true gamers, you already know what this is, but even casual gamers can simplify a LAN party. The basic idea? Get a bunch of your friends together for a BYOC (bring your own computer) evening (or all-nighter) featuring your fav multi-player game. Think the Call of Duty “team building” enjoyed by the Stamford branch in “The Office.”
- Pizza Hopping. Pizza is definitely a staple part of college life, so why not search out the best one–all in one evening? Whether you hop restaurants or go for delivery, make sure you branch out from the regular old Huts and Tables. Find the local dives, the quirky New York style pizza parlor in Portland, and the hole-in-the-wall deep dish place. (San Diegans, I have to recommend New York style at Bronx Pizza in Hillcrest–yum!)
For the Gals
- “Femme Nue” Party. The concept of a Femme Nue party (scandalously translated to “Naked Lady” party ) is simple and fun: you get a bunch of friends, grab all the clothes you never wear anymore and basically have a free-for-all clothing swap. Can’t slip into your former-favorite anymore? Trade them in for your BFF’s vintage cardigan. Add m&m’s and cupcakes and you’ve got yourself a party.
- Worst Date Party. Everybody has a bad date story: whether he brought his brother or forgot you at a hockey match, you’ve been there. The worst date party is a girly recompense for that worst-of-the-worst evening long (or not so long) ago. Gather your best friends and treat each other to a good date (read: swap corsages, get dressed up, and grab dinner somewhere you’re guaranteed a cute waiter) and swap your stories. Make sure you have a prize ready for the worst story! Go one better and write your stories down for posterity.
Oh good times. Don’t forget you can share your own party times in the comments!
photo: Disco LightBall by dsiis
November 20th, 2008
Want to spice up your Halloween with a little do-it-yourself costuming this year? Here are a few of my favorite fun (or ridiculous) costume tutorials from around the web… (I think the Inanimate Objects may be my favs!)
Wings, Capes, and Tails
Traditional Costumes
Movie/TV/Book Inspired
Inanimate Objects
photo: Pumpkin Candle by somadjinn
October 19th, 2008
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