Is Social Media the Secret to Reality TV's Success?

The Voice, Dancing with the Stars, Survivor, So You Think You Can Dance and The Real Housewives franchise- ever heard of these shows? Of course you have, because all of these highly successful shows  have social media elements built in to them. Coincidence? I personally think there are no coincidences in life and social media is the secret ingredient that raised the bar for reality TV.

In an interview the Social Media Examiner did with Mark Burnett, Survivor's executive producer, Burnett states that social media has expanded what was known as "water cooler conversation." These discussions you used to have at work with co-workers are now constantly happening through social media. That original bond people had with reality shows began because people could relate to the stars, but now, social media has fed people's fascination with reality TV and made it grow. People live tweet with other fans during shows, write blogs about the shows (just as I am doing now) and read up on gossip about their favorite reality TV stars. Social media has increased reality TV's access and reach by leaps and bounds.

Here are how some of our favorite reality shows incorporate social media into its platform:

The Voice: All contestants have Twitter accounts, the show has a live Twitter feed on its website where it posts viewer's tweets throughout show. Viewers can vote for their favorites on Facebook, NBC.com or NBC apps. This season, the instant save was introduced where the audience had five minutes to tweet and save an eliminated contestant. Fans also had the chance this season to participate in the Kia Voice Fans Sweepstakes, where fans submit a video or Twitter question to one of the contestants and one grand prize winner is awarded a new Kia. Finally, contestants songs are put on iTunes for purchase and their rank on iTunes plays into their vote tallies each week.

Dancing with the Stars: All of the show's pros and celebs have accounts on Twitter. In recent seasons, Dancing with the Stars has run numerous contests on Twitter to get fans involved in the show such as voting for an encore dance, voting for prom king and queen on prom theme night, and voting during the infamous partner switch-up week. Many of the shows pros and celebrities also blog about their training on different media outlets and viewer's tweets are posted during the live show each week. Lastly, in addition to phone line voting, the audience votes for their favorite dancer each week through Facebook, Twitter and the abc.com website.

Survivor: The Survivor webpage includes videos, photos, live footage of Ponderosa, the jury camp, a message board and interactive fan activities. The best aspect of their site though is the watch and chat function, where you can watch the last episode and live chat with other fans. Survior contestants write blogs and the audience picks their "fan favorite" by voting on Twitter. Then, on the live reunion special, fan questions from Twitter are answered and people are live tweeting.

So You Think You Can Dance: Fans are allowed to vote online through the website by signing in with their Facebook accounts. All top 20 contestants of each season are required to have Twitter account with certain names pertaining to that season (ex: @Dance11Bridget). A new element to the show this year is the addition of dance crews. Fans will vote for their favorite dance crew on Twitter and the winners will perform on one of the live shows.

The Real Housewives: All Real Housewives shows are aired a second time as the "social edition" of the show and feature tweets from fans throughout the episodes. Housewives are required to write weekly blogs and a number of them live tweet with fans during their respective franchise's episodes. Andy Cohen's talk show "Watch What Happens Live" regularly features the housewives as guests, who answer questions via phone and Twitter.

I think it's safe to say that social media is crucial to the success of reality TV now. If your fans are not engaged in the show, your show will flop. Reality TV shows have to be a two-way street complete with fan interaction in order to rise to the top.

Visit the following link to watch the Social Media Examiner's interview with Mark Burnett that I reference above:
http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/social-media-and-reality-tv-how-mark-burnett-is-leading-the-way/

Love Them or Leave Them: The Beauty Box Club-of-the-Month Craze

People like their products just like they like their information: convenient, tailored to their interests, and at a marginal price. Enter stage left: the beauty box club-of-the-month craze. If you are a regular social media user, you will see that a new box enters this market almost weekly. After doing some research, I saw a few glaring reasons why people are drawn to this new trend.

1. People love to get things in the mail-especially women. AS a member of one of these clubs, women feel like the company sends them a personalized surprise present each month- even though they signed up for the club and pay the fee.

2. Convenience- Let's face it: we, as a society, are lazy people . If something isn't in our own social media news feed we don't know about it and if a product is not sent to our door we won't try it. We want what we want and we want it now. Clubs-of-the-month thrive off of this attitude.

3. People feel like they are getting a bargain- Look, I know the box is a good value because you get all these samples cheaper than buying the individual products, but if it wasn't sent to your door, would you even think about buying this stuff? Just a thought to ponder on....

So for those of you interested, here is some information on the big kahunas of the beauty box club-of-the-month world:

Birchbox

• First on the market- send you 4 or 5 beauty samples plus and extra like a hair tie or energy bar
• Products range in size from teeny tiny to retail size; quality ranges from drugstore to higher-end
• Products sent out each month vary from user to user, 
• $10 per month and can cancel at any time
• 4 month waiting list period
• Comes in a recycled cardboard box with pink tissue paper

Julep

• Runs off of the Maven program, sign up and take the style quiz to determine your personal style
• $20 a month; you receive an email before you get the box telling you what will be in your box and if you don't like the contents you can request another box for that month
• Pause or cancel your subscription at any time or send your box one month to a friend as a gift
• Mavens get 20% off purchases from the julep website,

Ipsy

• 4 or 5 cosmetic, hair or skincare products, same for all customers each month, heavier on makeup samples
• Includes coupons and discount codes for the different products
• $10 a month and can cancel at anytime
• Products come in a cheap-looking , reusable makeup pouch that usually coincides with the month's theme
• Ipsy tends to focus more on the higher-end brands for their products which produces a better value than birchbox

Glossybox

• 5-6 deluxe size samples or full-size products each month
• Concentrates on luxury and foreign brands; subcribers are exposed to products they wouldn't normally know about
• Discounts on products featured in boxes
• Glossydots reward program- complete monthly surveys and refer friends to earn dots and every 1,000 dots you get a free box
• $21 monthly, $60 for 3 months, $115 for 6 months, $220 for year; cancel anytime
• Comes in beautifully wrapped box filled with tissue paper, makes an ideal gift

If anyone is already a member of one of these or decides to join, please let me know. I would love to hear your thoughts!

* Birchbox, Ipsy, and Glossybox info gathered from buzzfeed.com, and Julep info taken from handmadebynatalie.blogspot.com.

Do the Most Before You Post: Everyone Needs A Social Media Strategy

Long gone are the days of spontaneously posting content on your social media channels and having it result in impressions. All of the big guns (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn) are getting smarter, and with that, it drives us to be more strategic with our social media schedules.

Public Relations professionals and marketing strategists know that in order to do our jobs to the best of our ability, we have to treat the profession as an ever-changing industry. With that being said, I attended a very informative talk this week on the things people need to focus on before publishing posts on social media.

Content

Content is king, but you must post this content with purpose. Start out with an old-fashioned mission statement that will give you direction to later fill in details. You also have to know something about your audience, so listen and send out discovery questionnaires to learn everything about these people. Once you discover who you are talking to, you can create personas representing the different types of consumers you are trying to reach.

What you want your audience to do? Engage in conversation and get them to take an action on your behalf. Test content (messages and types) out on your audience in variations that include video, images, text. Once it's obvious what types do not connect with your audience, don't be afraid to purge the bad and introduce the new. Lastly, calendar everything. An automation content calendar is your friend so use it!

Time of Day
What are the best times of day to post content on social media so that your audience sees it? This is a very important question because the time of day you post truly matters to your business. If you receive no impressions, you receive no value and your time is wasted. The answer to the question is probably not what you think: it depends on your audience. Everyone does not look at their social media channels at the same time, so people really need to research their audience's social media viewing patterns and schedule posts to coincide with those times. If you manage more than one company's social media, or multiple channels for a company, you might want to make an audience viewing chart for reference.

Paid Ads
In today's social media world, you have to pay to play. This sentence refers to Facebook the most. Simply put, when Facebook went public it changed. Organic reach plummeted, and now, if you don't pay on Facebook, a lot of times your content is not seen. Sometimes, as little as boosting a post for $5 can make a difference. Facebook's algorithm, Edgerank, rewards you when you pay to boost a post. After you promote a post, every post that follows for an extended period of time, gets a lift. Start small and buy smart when it comes to promoting posts; figure out who you want to reach and why. As with most paid advertising, there is a threshold where Facebook ads are concerned and your posts can become saturated.

Channels
According to social media experts, Facebook and Twitter are not going away, but they are considered to be plateauing. Suggested reading on the plateau of Twitter is an article by The Atlantic titled, "A Eulogy for Twitter." On the other hand, LinkedIn has gotten a lot more interesting in the past 6-12 months. LinkedIn signs up two new members per second and around 40% of members check their LinkedIn account daily. The site just hit 300,000,000 users, made enhancements to company pages, and launched university pages.
Slideshare is a social media channel than a lot of people aren't familiar with yet, but it is highly useful. Companies often post presentations with detailed information of certain products on this channel. It's a good research tool when deciding to try a certain product or brand. Lastly, experts believe that blogs will once again trump other social media channels in the future. Let's face it, the content that really matters is the content that you control and the content you own. Blogging allows a person or company to show a more personal side and share knowledge that is important to them.

I'll leave you with a list of some great tech sites to check out on the web: mashable, techmeme, digg, reddit
thenextweb, buffer, and socialbro.

Be sure to follow Blake Killian, social media director, at Zehnder Communications, and the person who shared all of this knowledge with me, on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/blakekillian. Oh yea, catch me on Twitter too: Bridget Conrad: @bridgec17.

Summer TV Line-Up is Hotter Than Ever Before: Check Out These Five Shows

Years ago, it used to be that one would dread the summer season where TV is concerned because all of our favorite shows go on hiatus. Have no fear, because this summer, you can find shows that are just as hot to get hooked on. These five summer shows will fill your summer with drama, entertainment, and uplifting messages.

1. Mistresses- This show is definitely a guilty pleasure of mine and is the closest thing to a prime time soap on TV this summer. It stars Alyssa Milano (Savi), Rochelle Aytes (April), Yunjin Kim (Karen), and Jes Macallan (Joss) as four female friends who face a plethora of complex decisions associated with their personal relationships. Season one ended with Karen and Elizabeth Grey going head-to-head, April ditching both the men in her life and choosing herself, Savi finding out Dom is the father of her unborn baby and fighting for her life after a car crash, and Joss losing her girlfriend, career and possibly her sister. Season two will air on ABC on June 2 at 10/9c and takes place eight months after season one ended.

2. The Bachelorette- I think by now everyone is familiar with The Bachelor/Bachelorette franchise, but I'm particularly excited about this season of The Bachelorette because it's featuring Andi Dorfman from Juan Pablo's season. Andi is a successful lawyer that knows what she wants and had no problem calling out Juan Pablo on his BS last season, which resulted in her walking away from him right before a rose ceremony. She's proven that she's not afraid to say what she's thinking and, in my opinion, that makes a good Bachelorette. The Bachelorette premiers on ABC on May 19 at 8/7c.

3. So You Think You Can Dance- Some may say this show started out as the American Idol of dance, but I believe Nigel Lythgoe still has an engaging concept with this show. SYTYCD is basically a talent competition for professional dancers who each specialize in their own genre of dance. They are put through the ringer during Vegas week, get partnered up, dance with SYTYCD All-Stars, and in the end, one male and one female are crowned "America's Favorite Dancers." I love this show not only for the dancing, but the production staff engages with fans on social media and actually listens in order to make this show 100% for the people watching it. SYTYCD premieres on Fox on May 28 at 8/7c.

4. Fix Your Life- Join relationship expert and life coach, Iyanla Vanzant, as she helps people overcome obstacles in their lives. Every episode dives into a different topic posed by a guest and includes Vanzant's view on pre-taped footage from the guest's everyday life. She attempts to make the guest look at their setback in a different way and learn how to overcome it. Viewers get updates at the end of each show on the guest's progress. Some past guests have included Terrell Owens and Evelyn Lozada. Fix My Life currently airs on the OWN Network, Sundays at 9/8c.

5. Real Housewives of New Jersey- Welcome back to one of the most popular housewives franchises on Bravo! Although, this season is a little different: Caroline Manzo and Jacqueline Laurita are gone, Kathy Wakile has been demoted to "friend of the housewives", Melissa and Teresa appear to get along, and we have three new housewives: Dina Manzo (not really new but back after hiatus from show), Nicole Napolitano, and Amber Marchese. Just because it looks like the feud between Teresa and Melissa is squashed, doesn't mean the drama well is dry this season. Look for new housewives Amber and Nicole to get into it, among other scandalous moments. The big question mark is how did Bravo handle all of Teresa's legal troubles this season? Only time will tell! Bravo has not released an air date for season 6 of RHONJ yet, but it is confirmed and will definitely premiere in either June or July.

Surviving a Southern Summer- Seven Tips to a Successful Summer Season

Living in Louisiana, we have our fair share of hot and humid summer months. With a little practice, and trial and error, I share with you five tips that anyone can use to survive a summer in the south.

1. Add light colored pants to your wardrobe- Do not shy away from buying those light khaki pants or white jeans this summer. If you are like me, and feel like a sausage in casing in white jeans, here is a great tip- buy your light-colored pants a size larger and have them tailored down where needed. I heard a sales girl at The Limited tell another customer this and I felt like my life changed, ha. I actually did go out and buy my first pair of white jeans though and I love them.

2. Invest in a keratin-based hair product- I have frizzy and curly hair, so some kind of keratin-based product for my hair is a must in the summer. I recommend either Organix Ever Straight Brazilian Keratin Therapy or Tresemme 7-day Keratin Smooth.

3.  Make a pool day playlist- During the hot summer months, I try to get out to a pool as much as possible to cool off. There's nothing more relaxing then laying out in a lounge chair and listening to music that makes you feel like you are on an island vacation. Relaxing tunes like Coldplay's "Paradise" or Bob Marley's "Could you be Loved" are great additions to a pool day playlist.

4. You can use sunscreen and still get a decent tan- I'm at an age now where it's just not smart for me to only put on tanning oil when laying out. I like to use a face moisturizer with at least SPF 30 and sunscreen with at least SPF 25 on my body. My trick though, is that I put dark tanning oil on top of the sunscreen, which still results in a sunkissed glow.

5. Don't be afraid of neon colors- Neon colored clothes have been a trend for a few years now. While neons can easily make an outfit look cheap, they can also be incorporated into an outfit in classy ways. I use neons as my pops of color in the summer. Whether a statement necklace, bracelets,  a design on a shirt, or even shorts paired with a neutral colored top, neons can make a summer outfit fun and stylish. Oh, and they for sure make you look tanner than you really are. :)

6. Find a go-to summer cocktail- My go-to summer cocktail used to be a margarita all the way, but I discovered the St. Germain cocktail just this week. It's 4 parts dry sparkling wine, 1.5 parts St. Germain, lemon for garnish and fill with ice. Delish!

7. Drink lots of water- If water isn't your thing, many brands have come out with products to flavor your water. My favorite is the Crystal Light line- so many good flavors!

Stay Full All Morning with this Homemade Parfait Recipe

If you are like me, you are one of those people that have to have breakfast and coffee to be a functioning member of society every day. I was at the point where I was sick of every flavor Luna bar out there and needed something different. I started experimenting one day and put together some ingredients to make a parfait mix every Sunday that would last me throughout the week and that I could mix up different fruits in it.

Well, below is the concoction I am hooked on. As the fruit seasons change, you can change up the fruit, but the grapes are pretty much a constant in this breakfast dish.

Fruit & Yogurt Parfait
Servings- about 10  Prep time: 10 min.

Ingredients

• (1) 8 ounce tub of fat free cream cheese (I like the tub rather than the package because the tub is softer).
• (1) cup (8 ounces) of fat free plain Greek yogurt
• 1/3 cup of sugar
• (2) teaspoons of vanilla extract
• (2) pounds of seedless grapes (I usually use red grapes)
• (2) cups of berries (strawberries, blueberries or raspberries)
• (2) cups of additional seasonal fruit
• granola sprinkled on each serving (I use Special K granola with a touch of honey)

Directions:

• In a large bowl, beat cream cheese, Greek yogurt, sugar and vanilla until blended. Add grapes and other fruits, then toss to coat.
• Cover and refrigerate. 
• Sprinkle granola on each serving.

This recipe always lasts me at least a week for breakfast, and I sometimes even eat it for a snack on the weekends. I wake up every day for work in just enough time to get ready and get out the door, so having a healthy breakfast already made has really helped me in the mornings. 

Hope you enjoy!

Five Tips to Take Full Advantage of Your LinkedIn Profile

When you are in the communications profession, it's especially important to stay up-to-date on ways to make social media work for you. Admittedly, Linkedin was a social media network that I use on a regular basis, but knew the least about. So, when I saw that the university I work for was offering an executive education class on how to get the most out of your LinkedIn profile, I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to brush up on my skills. Below you will find five simple tweaks that you can make to your LinkedIn profile to make you more searchable and relevant on this social media network.

1. Take note of your profile strength- In the bottom, right hand corner of your profile, LinkedIn takes it upon itself to rank your profile basically from zero to hero. If you want to make your profile stronger, under profile, hit edit profile, and LinkedIn takes you through a series of steps to brighten up your online presence. Your ultimate goal should be to make it to "all-star."

2. Edit your default tagline- The default setting for your profile tagline is your current job title, which, if you think about it, makes no sense. Change this tagline to keywords that set you apart and make you unique- for example, mine is, "Experienced Public Relations Professional, Marketing Strategist, Social Media Manager, and Event Planner." You will see the option to edit this once you are in the edit profile function.

3. Customize your profile so you are easier to find- Your default URL on LinkedIn is a bunch of random letters and numbers, which is located at the top left of your profile underneath your picture. Change this URL to something you can remember. My profile URL is www.linkedin.com/in/bridgetconrad/  . Also, make sure that your profile is visible to everyone. You can do this under the edit profile function, go to the bottom of your profile under connections, and click customize visibility.

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  Make the Most of Your LinkedIn Profile
  

  
  

4. Remind people of you profile- Put the link to your public profile in the signature of your email. You can add a LinkedIn graphic button to your emails- click the following link to see directions http://slidesha.re/1jmzbOn 

5. Include a summary on your profile- A summary on your profile helps people make a personal connection with you through industry, school or hometowns. Who knows- this could be the deciding factor on whether someone calls you for a job! You can do this easily under the edit profile function, in the background section.

I hope these tips are helpful! Do me a favor and add Heather Esposito on LinkedIn- www.linkedin.com/in/heatheresposito . She taught the class I attended and changed my views on LinkedIn completely. In fact, just this week, LinkedIn hit the 300 million user mark, so it's definitely a worthwhile network and it pays to keep your profile current. Oh, also add me on there too: www.linkedin.com/in/bridgetconrad .Have a great Easter everyone!

The Beginning of the End: 5 Questions That Need to be Answered in Mad Men's Last Season

As Jon Hamm told Diane Sawyer in an interview this week, tonight only marks the beginning of the end for Mad Men, not the end of the end. There's still plenty of time to get the answers to those lingering questions that Mad Men creator, Matthew Weiner, is so good at keeping buried. We all have our list of things that make you go hmmm when it comes to this show, so I wanted to share mine with you as a little refresher to preface tonight's season premiere.

1. What happened to Peggy and Pete's baby, and will the child make an appearance?
As soon as the attraction between Peggy and Pete became obvious, I was hooked on this pairing. There is something so evil yet charming about the character of Pete Campbell that a viewer can't help but root for him. I also loved the innocence of Peggy's character at this time in the show. She was out on her own and determined to climb the corporate ladder. What I don't think she realized though, is what power will do to a man's ego and conscience. Seriously though, where is their spawn? To see a mixture of these two characters in a child would be priceless. I'm still holding out hope for this story line.

2. Will Roger and Joan end up together?
Ahhh Roger and Joan- Joan may be the only woman that Roger has ever really loved! Through his first wife to his young wife, Joan was always a stable person in his life. When Joan's husband left her with her baby, it was Roger that helped her pick up the pieces. I would be almost shocked to not see these two end up together, but stranger things have happened.

Reminds me of Don Draper @ a photo shoot

3. Will Don's real identity as Dick Whitman be exposed to everyone?
To this day on the show, only a handful of people know of Don's real identity. This story line surely will be explored even more through the last season of the show. Will everyone find out? Will the truth set Don free or cause him to spiral even more downward? Perhaps this forces Don to kill himself (conspiracy theory I allude to in question 5). There are still so many unanswered details when it comes to Don (Dick), that I feel this may be the backbone to the end unfolding.

4. Who is Bob Benson?
For real, who the $%&@ is Bob Benson?  After Pete had Duck Phillips investigate Bob last season, we find out his whole resume is smoke and mirrors. Then there was the Spanish aide that he recommended Pete hire to take care of his mother, when soon after, Pete's mother ends up dead. Lastly, was Bob hitting on Pete a calculated move, or is Bob really gay? I'm dying to know if there is a deep-seeded connection of Bob to someone in this series, or if he is just a poor man's Don Draper trying to get ahead.
                                                
5. Does the opening sequence of the show foreshadow the show ending with Don committing suicide?
I have had this question in my brain since the end of season 2. Now that this show has evolved, I'm only convinced more that this could be a strong possibility the final episode. If that's the case, serious props for creativity and great story development.

I hope everyone is as excited as I am for the start of this show again. Being in public relations and marketing myself, it's  refreshing to watch a show depict our industry as it was decades ago.

The Basics of Online Personal Branding: Five Simple Ways to Make Yourself Known

Whether you are a stay-at-home mom, a corporate executive, or an entrepreneur, an online presence in today’s digital world is a must. Often, when perusing through my Twitter newsfeed, I see women making very candid and opinionated comments, sometimes as a personal attack on another. What these women do not realize is that their immature behavior casts them in a negative light when it comes to their online persona. With this being said, it’s very important for women to know how simple it is to create a strong and positive brand for themselves on the internet.

 

Here are five basic things to think about when forming your identity in our digital age:

 

1. Identify your biggest strength and focus on that.

Use celebrities as an example. They hone in on their best skill (singing, acting, dancing, business) and focus on being the best at it. They focus on being great at one skill, instead of knowing a little about a lot of things. This is the same principle you should use when forming your presence on the web. Your “skill” can range from an expertise, to a hobby, to personal interests you have in common with others (ex: TV shows, music).

 

2. Think about what makes you stand out from the crowd- why should people remember you?

Make people remember you for your knowledge, skills, and similar background, not how well you trash talk or how opinionated you are in conversations. There is such a thing as bad attention, and the internet is not the place to broadcast biased thoughts. Now more than ever, negative online behavior can effect a situation when you least expect it.

3. Establish a presence on social media with the correct audiences- Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram.

Below is the difference between audiences on social networks. Some people mass post content on all their social media profiles. This is not a good practice because each audience is very different. One universal rule is to always act with respect. You are putting your brand out for the world to see- be mindful of that.

Facebook- social friendships, family connections, and re-connecting with people from the past. People also follow businesses and news outlets.

LinkedIn- a strictly professional network- most people keep their connections on this site to business colleagues, businesses they admire, and people who they wish to connect with professionally.

Twitter- follow important topics, people, and have conversations that are important and relevant to things that interest you.

Instagram- share your life with friends through photos. Many TV shows and celebrities have accounts you can follow and comment on as well.

4. It’s all in the content you create!

Create content on a regular basis to ensure that your brand stays fresh and relevant. A personal blog or website, in addition to your social media profiles, helps people get a sense for who you really are and what you are trying to accomplish.

5. Create change- lead change, be innovative and make significant contributions to your industry.

Network, mentor, public speak, and do pro bono work. These things only make you, as a brand, stronger. For the stay-at-home moms out there, mom bloggers have proved to be some of the most influential women on the internet by just writing about products that they like and dislike.

You have the power to decide who you want to be online, and if you follow these steps, you’ll be remembered for your knowledge, contributions and influence.

The Jingle Punks Hipster Orchestra- Bringing Classical Music to a New Generation

Happy Saturday all!

So, just to preface this next post, I'll tell you that I'm a huge Justin Timberlake fan going back to his N'Sync days, and this past week while at work I made the best music discovery on Pandora Radio. Justin Timberlake's music sometimes isn't that workplace appropriate, along with other contemporary music, but the songs you know are the ones that tend to give you energy and get you in the zone at work. Have no fear, because The Jingle Punks Hipster Orchestra is here!

The Hipster Orchestra was formed in 2011 by Jared Gudstadt, the CEO of Jingle Punks Music, the New York-based music and licensing company. The purpose was to arrange both indie and pop contemporary hits as well as classics for a string-based chamber group. This group has covered artists such as The Strokes, The Black Keys, Nirvana and Justin Timberlake. Perhaps, one of their more popular Youtube videos, was the compilation of Jay Z and Beyonce songs they made for Blue Ivy right after she was born.

Hipster Orchestra is a string-based chamber group.

If you want to check this group out, they have made appearances at Soho House and Rockwood Music Hall in New York, Schuba's in Chicago, Soho House in Los Angeles, and at Voodoo Fest in my home town of New Orleans. They have also gained media attention through outlets such as The Huffington Post and made appearances on Late Night with Carson Daly.

The song that this group covered that caught my attention was Mirrors by Justin Timberlake. It ranks up there with my favorite songs of his, and to me it's one that I always thought would sound amazing arranged with an orchestra. From the first note of The Hipster Orchestra's cover, I got chills because they sound amazing and relevant. This group is a breath of fresh air in an age of music where, in some cases, autotune overtakes actually real musical talent. I consider The Hipster Orchestra a great music discovery. I'll leave you some links of two of their songs and how to find them on the web. Have a great weeekend!

Jingle Punks Hipster Orchestra
Website: www.hipsterorchestra.com
Twitter: @hipsterorchestr
Facebook: search Jingle Punks Hipster Orchestra

Mirrors
http://youtu.be/G2rcQkZ-sBs

Blue Ivy Lullaby
http://youtu.be/NeYX7kaYsQM

Class it Up this Spring: 4 Exercise Classes to Get You Bathing Suit Ready!

Happy Saturday to you all!

The weather is finally starting to heat up here in Louisiana, which puts my mind in gear to get in shape. If you're anything like me, I always stay in an exercise routine longer if I have a class to go to at a certain time and day during the week. In addition, I think the camaraderie you feel with others in the class is a real motivator to keep you coming back. With this being said, I wanted to share details about four exercise classes that I feel are great to incorporate into a routine in order to get a banging body for summer.

1. Hot yoga  - According to mayoclinic.org, hot yoga is a high-intensity form of yoga performed in a studio that is heated to 105 F (40 C) and has a humidity of 40 percent. Another name for hot yoga is Bikram. Bikram yoga is a 90-minute program that consists of a series of 26 postures. The postures require lengthy, forceful and well-controlled contractions of all major muscle groups. The demanding nature of the poses and the heat are designed to raise your heart rate and tire your muscles. Because of its intensity and potential to cause heat-related illness, hot yoga isn't for everyone. Be sure you check with your doctor before trying hot yoga if you have any health concerns. For those that watch Dancing with the Stars, the female pro dancers swear by this type of yoga.

2. Pilates - Pilates.com describes this workout as an innovative and safe system of mind-body exercise using a floor mat or a variety of equipment. It evolved from the principles of Joseph Pilates and can dramatically transform the way your body looks, feels and performs. Pilates builds strength without excess bulk, capable of creating a sleek, toned body with slender thighs and a flat abdomen. It is a safe, sensible exercise system that will help you look and feel your very best. It teaches body awareness, good posture and easy, graceful movement. Pilates also improves flexibility, agility and economy of motion. It can even help alleviate back pain. I've taken Pilates before and the great thing about this class is that everyone really does the moves at a level that is comfortable for that person. Pilates can be altered so anyone can benefit from the class. Jennifer Aniston is one of the many celebs that are loyal to Pilates.

3. Zumba - Founded in 2001, zumba.com states that Zumba Fitness is a global lifestyle brand that fuses fitness, entertainment and culture into an exhilarating dance-fitness sensation! Zumba® exercise classes are " fitness-parties " that blend upbeat world rhythms with easy-to-follow choreography, for a total-body workout that feels like a celebration. We offer different types of Zumba classes, plus DVD workouts, original music collections, apparel and footwear, video games, interactive Fitness-Concert™ events, a quarterly lifestyle magazine and more. I have taken many Zumba classes and, to me, the key to loving this workout is to find an instructor you mesh with. There are different instructors who teach in different ways, but ultimately it's all about having fun. Comedian and actress, Sherri Shepherd, incorporates Zumba classes into her weekly workouts.

4. Barre - Barreonline.com says a barre workout is set to upbeat music (to keep you motivated), and lasts 60-minutes, starting with a warm-up and sequence of upper-body exercises using light free weights, push-ups and plank.  The bicep, tricep, shoulder, chest and back muscles are targeted here. Then, the workout moves into a series of ballet barre or floor exercises that focus on the thighs – which we then stretch. The seat series follows, using the ballet barre or floor. We finish off the seat with more stretching. It’s onto abs after that, followed by more stretching and some back extensions. We wrap up the class with our fun “back dancing” and our final stretch. I have never taken this before, but I was in ballet class for 10 years growing up and I still have leg muscles to show for it today. Kelly Ripa and Natalie Portman are among the celebrities who use barre as a workout.

Hope these classes help you spice up your workout routine and get you on track for a bathing suit body!

Bridget

Psst.. Here's a Celebrity Skin Care Secret!

Hello again,
As I was thinking about what my next blog post would be for this week, I went and got some coffee, then went to start getting ready for work. The first thing I did was pick up my Clairsonic Mia 2 face brush, and at that point I new I had to share information on this beauty secret with you that tons of celebrities are using today.

I first heard about the Clairsonic brush from Courtney Kerr ( Bravo celebrity) on Twitter. She runs a very successful fashion blog and when someone asked her how she keeps her skin so flawless she replied "Clairsonic brush, you'll thank me." I've come to trust her opinion on things, fashion and beauty included, so I decided to buy a Mia 2and try this little secret out for myself.

The Clairsonic Face Brushes use patented sonic technology to cleanse pores of environmental toxins, makeup, and bacteria without abrasion or harsh chemicals. According to Clairsonic, these brushes remove greater than 6x more makeup and increase skin absorption, making skin more receptive to skin care ingredients. Skin looks and feels more hydrated and users will see a reduction in dry skin patches, oily areas, and blemishes. Lastly, pore size, fine lines, and wrinkles appear smaller.

These brushes are waterproof, rechargeable, and have many brush heads to choose from, such as: deep pore, sensitive, acne, normal, delicate, and body brush. In doing some research, I found that Courtney is not the only celebrity that uses Clairsonic brushes, others include: Hilary Scott (Lady Antebellum); Nikki Reed (Twilight); Natalie Coughlin (Olympic swimmer); Yvette Nicole Brown (Community); Ashley Greene (Twilight); Courteney Cox (Cougar Town and Friends); and Nina Dobrev (Vampire Diaries).

The Verdict: After just two washes with my brush, I noticed the normal dry patch in my t-zone had vanished! Also, my skin looked freshly exfoliated and the natural moisture of my skin was brought to the surface, giving me a more youthful look. I bought my Mia 2 for $125, but that's a small price to pay if I don't have to get facials regularly because of this brush. All in all, well worth the money! Seriously go get one now- and don't forget to register your product online. You will automatically receive a $25 coupon on your next $50 purchase from the web site.

Clairsonic brushes are available at stores such as Ulta, Sephoria, Dillard's and Macy's. Also, you can purchase all Clairsonic products online at www.clairsonic.com.

Until next time!

Bridget

My Top 10 Twitter Topics This Week

Hola!
Particularly this week, a lot of Twitter topics have gotten my attention. With it being award and premiere season, it seems like there are an array of hot topics in pop culture right now. I'd like to dedicate this blog to my Top 10 Twitter Topics this week.

1. Lupito Nyong'o has a boyfriend... and it's not Jared Leto.
Hearts break around the world now that everyone knows "Japito" is not happening. Lupito has reportedly been dating rapper K'naan since September of last year.

2. Dancing with the Stars finally returns on Monday, March 17
Mark your calendars and set your DVRs- the joy of glitter and spray tans come back to our television in 2 short days! Tune in Monday on ABC at 7 p.m.

3. When will the Biebs be stopped?!
Anyone else disgusted by Justin Bieber's deposition video posted online? Why isn't he in rehab while being watched 24/7? And where is his mother?!

4. Kenya Moore and Brandi Glanville on Celebrity Apprentice?!
With two weeks to go until the premiere, TMZ is reporting that Kenya and Brandi have joined the cast of Celebrity Apprentice. Keep in mind, these ladies aren't particularly fond of each other.

5. Scandal fans: #whogotshot?!
Rejection can make a person act out in crazy ways, but I never thought I would see Jake Ballard (Scott Foley) actually shoot someone. Our good guy on Scandal has gone bad. Can Olivia clean this up?

Top 10 Twitter Topics

6. I'm 31 years old and still love The Muppets
I, for one, am very excited about the new Muppets movie out on March 21 and am getting a kick out of all the publicity for it.

7. Scarlett Johansson is now just a pregnant freak of nature.
Did you guys see her in that black and white outfit she wore to the Hollywood premiere of " Captain America: The Winter Soldier?" We all knew she was breathtaking before she was pregnant, but is it possible she's more gorgeous with a baby bump? I think so.

8. What was The Bachelor Juan Pablo thinking?
Juan Pablo actually expressed to Clare that he enjoyed hooking up with her but didn't know her.Even though I'm sure many guys have had his same thought, it doesn't mean you should verbalize it.  Helloo? Anyone up there? Moving on...

9. This week, Drew Brees had his eighth anniversary with the Saints.
Drew Brees has done so much for the city of New Orleans and, as a NOLA native, I can only say THANK YOU!

10. How many Bravolebrities have books out?!
If anyone has a list they could share, I would love to see it! Honestly, I love Carole Radziwill's writing style and admire her career a lot. I've also read Brandi's books and plan on buying Jenni Pulos' book

Hope this caught you up on your guilty pleasures for the week!

Bridget

Accessorize Like a Celebrity Without Breaking the Bank: Say Hello to Stella & Dot!

Hi all!

When it comes to jewelry, do you find that you have champagne taste but are on a beer budget? Have no fear, because celebrity favorite Stella & Dot makes jewelry that's affordable for the average woman's lifestyle. With spring knocking at our door, I know that I'm looking for a few bright pieces to update my jewelry collection, and since hearing about Stella & Dot, they are my go-to for quality pieces at an affordable price.

My Stella & Dot collection

If you haven't heard of this brand yet, make it a point to visit www.stelladot.com very soon! This jewelry is only available online or through representatives that host trunk shows. Personally, I learned about this collection through a friend's trunk show. You can find out more information on hosting a trunk show, and search for a representative in your area, under the trunk show tab on the home page.

Once you become familiar with this brand, you will notice the multitude of celebrities that wear this jewelry on a daily basis. To list a few names, I'll give you the most worn necklace, earrings and bracelet chosen by celebrities these days:

• Renegade cluster bracelet- Carrie Underwood, Sofia Vergara, Katy Perry, Shay Mitchell, Jenna Dewan-Tatum, Katharine McPhee, Katrina Bowden and Giuliana Rancic
• Rebel pendant- Selena Gomez, Olivia Munn, Amy Poehler, Emily VanCamp, Melissa Rycroft, Julianne Hough, Vanessa Hudgens, Kelly Clarkson and Tiffani Thiessen
• Serenity stone drop earrings- Stacy Kiebler, Brooke Burke-Charvet, Katherine Heigl, Jennie Garth, Julianne Hough and Jessica Szohr

Hope everyone falls in love with Stella & Dot! On a side note, they also offer accessories like scarves and clutches. Go have some fun on the web site and prepare to take your jewelry collection up a few notches.

Bridget

TV Premiere Mania- week of premieres

Well, I'm sure if you've turned on your computer in the past week, you've seen that many shows will make their mid-season return or premiere in the coming weeks Here's a list of a few of my favorites to look out for:

1. Revenge- I recently caught up on this show on Netflix and I'm hooked. We left off where Daniel shot Emily on their wedding night and now she is forcing him to stay in a loveless marriage. The last episode ended with Emily waking up at the Southfork Hotel in Conrad's suite and she obviously didn't remember how she got there. This show returns on Sunday, March 9 at 9 p.m. on ABC.

2. Online Dating Rituals of the American Male- Thank you to Bravo for going there! This show will make it's series premiere on Sunday, March 9 at 9 p.m. on Bravo and the previews, unfortunately, depict the dating realities people go through today.

3. The Real Housewives of New York- It's been a long time since we've seen this group! From what I hear, some grueling salary negotiations delayed the filming of this season for awhile, but alas they're back! A few changes to look for: Countess LuAnn has been downgraded to friend of the housewives and you won't see her in the first few episodes. Also, there's a new housewife in town: Kristen Taekman. The dish on her is that she's friends with Brandi Glanville from Beverly Hills and met Andy at a Bravo event in New York that she accompanied Brandi to. She's a model trying to get back into the game after having kids and she really really likes Elvis. This season, it looks like Ramona loses her cool, Sonja loses her tooth, and Aviva loses her leg! The premiere is set for Tuesday, March 11 at 8 p.m.

4. Dancing with the Stars- Yes, Dancing with the Stars returns in a little over a week with many changes! First, say bye bye to Brooke Burke and hello to her replacement, season 10 finalist, Erin Andrews. Next on the chopping block is...the Harold Wheeler Band. The band has been replaced by musical director Ray Chew, and more pre-recorded music. Oh wait this change is a good one.. keep calm because Maks is back! Yes, the proclaimed, " bad boy of the ballroom," makes his return as a pro partnering gold medal ice dancer, Meryl Davis. And folks, looks like this pair will be a strong contender this season. Mark my words right here, a Chmerkovskiy will win the mirror ball this season! For info on the remaining couples of season 18, see http://abc.go.com/shows/dancing-with-the-stars/cast-announcement . Look for this show to be back on Monday, March 17 at 7 p.m. 

Talk about a busy month for TV! Get your DVRs ready and thanks for visiting!

Bridget