Wednesday, May 22, 2013

why i hate seventeen magazine {a rant}

Friend: "Hey, did you see that article about Ed Sheeran in Seventeen? He's your favorite singer, right?"

Me: "Yes he is. But I haven't read the article... I've never actually even opened an issue of Seventeen before."

Friend: "WHAT?! You haven't?! Girl, you need to pick up a copy sometime -- you'd love it."

Me: "...All right?"

Before the above conversation took place, I had never even thought about reading a teen magazine. I had zero interest in them. But last week I went against my better judgement and picked up two back issues at the library -- I mean, I'm only going to be seventeen for a few more weeks, right? Reading this magazine is like a rite of passage or something, and it was one I was determined to experience.

I opened the magazine with low expectations,  but what I saw surpassed them -- and not in a good way.

There were makeup and hair tips, shallow dating articles, and ads for overpriced products. No surprise there. But what did surprise me was how close it teetered over the edge of vulgarity at times. One article gave advice on "hooking up" and another smaller one praised the book 50 Shades of Grey. And I calculated that the average price of the products they were advertising was $65. What the what?!

Granted, there was some good material; mostly about loving your body type, etc. But the trashiness of the remainder of the content completely obliterated anything positive. Seventeen, do you really think that some self-conscious 14 year old is going to listen to you tell her that she's beautiful just way she is when your cover model looks like this:

Holy crap, what teenager naturally looks like this? Oh wait, NONE OF THEM. 

Because I'm pretty sure that she won't. 

After I was done being thoroughly disgusted, I did a little research on the history of the magazine. What I found shocked me: the magazine was actually originally started to improve the minds of young women. {Fancy that!} Issues included knitting patterns, literature {fun fact: Sylvia Plath was first published in Seventeen in the 1950's,}and lessons on modern art. They even had whole issues dedicated to encouraging young women to support the war effort during WWII. Again, what the what?!

The cover of the June 1950 issue. {It's a letter encouraging American girls to buy war bonds to "hasten the victory".} 

I think I like the original version of Seventeen better. 

And I'm pretty sure that I'm not the only one. 

~ Abby

Sources: 
Two back issues of Seventeen {February 2013 + March/April 2013}

p.s. Seventeen, I understand that your target audience is empty headed high school girls. But maybe putting in some content that is actually thought stimulating and doesn't immediately reduce the reader's brain to a quivering puddle of mush wouldn't be a bad thing. Seriously though, a lot of us don't give a carrot stick about who Ashley Greene is dating, or whatever that one article was about. I really can't remember, because it wasn't an engaging topic. #sorrynotsorry #offensiverunonsentence 






  

Thursday, May 9, 2013

books on books on books



I think I may have a problem.

I currently have ten books checked out at the library, and three on hold. That doesn't count the books I bought a couple of weeks ago at Barnes and Noble. Yeah, it's pretty bad. #imabookwormandiknowit

I think the reason for my book bingeing is the overall lack of literary stimulation I experienced throughout the school year. {dance + church + soccer + moutains of homework = no time for reading.} But now that I've had to spend less time memorizing Spanish verb conjugations and equations, I've had more time to indulge in a little fiction here, a little non fiction there.

But when your librarian knows what car you drive, you know you might have an issue.

My life accurately depicted in a meme. Also, double points for the HP glasses and scarf

What have you been reading lately? 

~ Abby



Tuesday, May 7, 2013

so much black and white + 100th post





I don't know what has happened to me; I've always been a color kind of gal. But lately, -- and by lately I mean the past six months -- I have been on a black and white kick. And though I'm loving it, I'm showing color in 4-H this year, so I have a mountain of black and white photos that I don't know what to do with. {Not to mention that these are all taken with my phone -- my SLR is currently out of commission. But hey, when life gives you Apples you take slightly blurry/grainy pictures and try to make the most of it.} 

Which do you prefer? Black and white, or color? 

~ Abby

p.s. i just now noticed that all of these are of children. is that weird? i guess i have a lot of random kids running around in my life. so i photograph them. okay.

p.p.s. blogger tells me that this is my 100th post, apparently. geez louise, i need to get a hobby. also i am embarassed of about 95 of my blogs.  I REGRET NOTHING!!!

p.p.p.s if you follow me on flickr, you've probably already seen these. sorry folks. 

Friday, May 3, 2013

le love list


:: Red Hair ::

It's no secret that I've always been jealous of naturally auburn haired ladies. In fact, I remember plotting to dye my hair red when I was four years old, so I could be Ariel in The Little Mermaid. {I never could figure out how to grow a fishtail though -- I'm still trying to work that out.} So when my mom gave me permission to use a temporary hair dye, I immediately took her up on it.

At first the dye turned my hair more Katy Perry purple and less Emma Stone red. *cue freaking out* But it's faded some, and I'm beginning to like it a bit.

:: Reeses McFlurries ::

I've gotten into the horrible habit of picking one of these up with friends after dance classes and Wednesday night small group. I know, it's bad. But they're so delicious. And cheap. And addictive. {I am 99% sure that McDonalds ice cream has the same addiction inducing properties as meth. I am also pretty sure that this country's obesity rate agrees with me.}


:: Escape from Camp 14 :: 

This book blows my mind. {All though I might be a bit biased, considering that I am currently obsessed with North Korea.}  It's an extremely fast paced, eye opening, engaging read, and I highly recommend it. 

:: Les Mis :: 

I saw it for the first time about a month ago -- and I've since seen it about 5 times. *blushes* Seriously, it's so brilliant; the acting, the music, the everything. Anne Hathaway killed it... I had no idea that she could sing and act so genuinely. Also she is an ugly crier, and that makes her so much more endearing.  Also, Marius's face. Also, this gif: 


Thank you Tumblr. You inspire me daily. 

~ Abby

p.s. you can now subscribe to my blog via email! so yeah... that's all.