ATTENTION Parents of the Facebook Generation - WHAT THEY POST WILL HURT THEM!!!!

Dear Parents of the Facebook Generation,

Here is a PSA for you and your future graduate.

Scenerio:  Your sweet fun loving daugther is up for her first big interview with a widely successful company.  She is wide eyed, determined to start off the ground running and has made a huge impression on her potential employer.  She has a four year degree in exactly what the corporation is asking for to fill this position.  She worked hard her four years and is ready to begin her career.

Your daugther gets a phone call from her potential employer .. letting her know that she is in the running for this position.  It is between her and another recent graduate who shows equal potential for this position.  He explains that they must perform a background check and it is apart of the hiring process.  However, he doesn't explain exactly what that entails.

Two days later, the employer calls and explains that the job was fullfilled by the other candidate. Your daughter asks for an explaination why they chose the other candidate over her.  He explains that her background check didn't come back with a favorable outcome.  Devasted and completey confused .. your daugther who has never had a incident with the law was crushed and upset over this situation.

She later learns that employers are turning to social media as an additional tool for background checks.  Unfortunately, for your daughter she had posted pictures on her facebook account of her partying and displaying lewd gestures into the camera.   These pictures had been viewed by her potential employer and cost her the job opportunity.

OK... this is real life .. this happens.  Employers are turning to social media for additional background checks.  Whether or not it is illegal or soon to be illegal... they are doing it and it is a lesson to be learned by many.

Click here:

Here is a great article discussing employers searching social media Sites for additional background screening for potential hires.

Second Scenerio:
 A Young girl applies to a Small Christian Private school for her first year of teaching.  Stellar GPA, attended church regularly, participated in her college campus intramural sports teams, worked hard to finish within the 4 year college timeframe, had attended that same small christian private school in her early education years.  She is excited to give back and be a part of the school that she attended and had made wonderful life long connections.
During her college years, she worked hard but enjoyed the social life.  Her teammates would often post pictures of her standing by the keg or in her impaired judgement flashed a quick "bird" at the camera... they posted them to her account.
During the final phase of the interviewing process, the small christian school asks to access her social media accounts to check out her bio and family pics to at some point be posted into the Christian school bulletin for her elaborate introduction.  She complies and later gets a phone call that the few posted pictures had caused quite a disturbance within their small christian community.  They dismiss her from the position due to their findings.

New graduates are finding that this is happening everywhere.   Private organizations and small businesses are especially using social media as an additional tool to screen candidates.

In investigating this further, small businesses use social media to determine whether a person has a background that would lead to future problems for a small business owner.  It could cost a small business owner several thousands of dollars if a person is hired and is determined unfit to handle certain daily operations.  Many employers want to know what type of person they are hiring before investing into them.  An average company can spend on an $8/hour employee - $1500 - $3500 indirect and direct  for hiring this individual.

For a salaried employee the cost is substantially more.

Click here to learn about the cost of hiring a new employee.


NO small Business will want to take that gamble on a stumbling drunk twenty something with signs of no self control.


For recent graduates looking to begin their careers, please keep their facebook, twitter, social media accounts in check.

In deleting a facebook account, I have learned that many times photos that have been posted will not be erased from the internet.   TRY deleting your account and re accessing it... everything will be exactly as it was when you closed it.  ANYTHING YOU POST to the internet is NOT ERASABLE.  You can search and access photos.   

SUGGESTIONS ON THE USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA

My suggestions would be to start educating your child about selective posting of photos, information and anything that could be detrimental to his/her future.   If it's an unflattering photo.. DON't POST IT!!!  ON ANYWHERE... INSTAGRAM, FACEBOOK, SNAPCHAT etc.....


If they choose to keep a facebook account, then suggest opening a professional facebook account that they can give to an employer to access.  Display awards, accomplishments, post information regarding accomplishments in college etc.... EVEN POST YOUR RESUME for their REVIEW.

I would also suggest accessing business and employment social media sites such as


CLICK here for LINKEDIN


Teach them how to make connections and use social media the right way that will lead to open doors.




NOW... I FORTUNATELY did not have a facebook page when I was in the dinosaur age of college and therefore daily postings of my late night craziness does not surface it's ugly head.  Now a days, my albums are loaded with pics of my kids and family craziness.    THANK GOD!!!!

Tell me your thoughts!   Curious to know if your son or daughter has had missed opportunities due to social media!

Hip Kits College Care Packages & Gifts for Your College Bound Cuties

Hip Kits College Care Packages & Gifts

Photo courtesy of Hip Kits Website

This is amazing!!  When I was in college my parents would send care packages throughout the year with all the essentials such as granola bars, gatorade, funny little knick knacks to keep my head in the game near exam times, inspirational cards or anything that she thought that I needed throughout the year.  I was OVER the MOON when I would find that little green tag in my college mailbox indicating care package pickup!!  LOVED IT!

Now, they have the coolest services available online for those important milestones throughout the year such as BIG exam days, birthdays, when your little offspring gets the nasty flu bug and you can't be there to hug and support ... but you want them to know that you are thinking about them.

I wish I would have been smart and on top of it to come up with this genius COLLEGE CARE PACKAGE business idea.

For those mommies and daddies this fall, who don't have the time to put a care package together but want their college bound kiddo to know that they are thinking about them...

Check out this Freshman Survival Kit Care Package

CLICK here for HIP KITS COLLEGE CARE PACKAGES AND GIFTS

Self DEFENSE Teach your College Bound Child the Skills. It happened to ME and it could happen to them!

The Time is upon us... Your sweet bright eyed 18 year old is heading off to college in the fall!!  Mom and Dad are frantically preparing for that moment when they have to load her up and send her on her way.

I have loved hearing all the stories of college visits, first time views of the campus and all that awaits your high school homecoming queen.

Can you remember your first week of being at college?  I can!!!  It was a very FRIGHTENING Experience that could have left me a victim of assault, rape or worse.

THIS IS a REAL STORY Told by Me and I can only pass this info along for Moms and Dads to be aware of the dangers of an Unprepared Naive First Time College Student.  It happened to me and it can happen to anyone.


When I began college I was 17 years old.  I am from the late bloomers generation where you put your kid in kindergarten when he/she turns 4.  So needless to say, I began college at a very young age.  I was naive, young, innocent and unaware of the rest of the world beyond my small town.  NO crime... no worries and many nights of doors unlocked and safety was not a concern.

When I arrived on campus at a BIG Ten University... I was excited and ready to meet and greet any old stranger that would look my way.   I was a transfer student and had spent a semester at a Junior College prior to attending the university.  My first week was during the mid of January.  It was cold and snowy.  I arrived earlier than the remaining students due to the priviledges of living in a dorm that offered midterm classes to foreign exchange students.   SO .. there were very little students on campus ... mostly foreign exchange students.

I decided to get a jump on the semester and grab the text books from the library for some upcoming courses.  I went to the undergrad library which is brilliantly built underground with a few winding stairwells and long dimly lit hallways.  Great for anyone who is looking to get ass raped.

I planted myself within distance from a group of Asian Students who didn't understand QUIET Zones in the library meant TO BE QUIET.  Between the asian Students, myself and a few librarian workers ... I think that was the total count in the underground library.  Guess who was cleary without a group?  ME!

(NOTE:  Parents... my first mistake .. NEVER EVER go alone... always be in a Group)

I looked up and hadn't noticed a strange professor looking type gentleman sitting across from me near the periodical section.  He was reading a newspaper, wore a pair of glasses, he had a pair of nicely pressed pants on, a jacket with arm pads on the elbows and a page boy hat.  I remember he had strange facial hair on his upper lip.  TO me he looked like a typical University Professor.

I had to go up to the library desk to check out a book and when I came back.  He decided to move to a seat at my table.  There were numerous tables around me with plenty of seating but he chose to sit two seats away from me at the table I was seating at. STRANGE HUH?  I began to read the book I checked out and couldn't help but feel the strangers eyes peering over his newspaper at me.  IT was creeping me out.  I began to pack up and realized that it was dinner time and I needed to head back to my dorm before it was dark.

I headed up to the library desk to retrieve my I.D.  I happen to glance back and saw that the strange gentleman was watching me and waiting for me to leave.  He was up and ready to go.  I knew it and I remember thinking ... I CAN MAKE IT HOME!  I am going to book it out of here.  This guy is freaking me out and the sooner I can get safely back to my dorm the better off I will be.

 (INSERT.. STUPID, NAIVE and completely unaware that a sociopath was hunting me like prey)

NOTE:  PARENTS this is where you teach your child to tell someone .. NOT run or make a foolish mistake but be aware and don't be afraid to ask for help.  

I put my back pack over my shoulder and began down the dimly lit hallway and was heading up the first flight of stairs.  I looked back and saw that the man was coming down the hallway with a fast pacing walk.   I took my backpack and put the other strap onto my other shoulder and began running up the flight of stairs. I burst through the door out onto into the open air and saw that the sun was going down pretty quickly and I had a few blocks to walk with alleyways in between to get to my dorm.

NOTE:  Parents teach your child never to go walking on campus alone at night for any reason.  Always call a friend, or utilize campus security transportation.

I looked back to see that he was closing in on me.  My speed walk turned into a quick sprint.  He started galloping towards me.   About 150 feet in the distance was a road construction crew packing up for the day.  I ran towards them with such speed that I was even amazed with how fast I could book it.  I crossed the road and stood right in the middle of the construction crew.  The man who was locking up the excavator saw that I was frantic and walked towards me.  He said, "Miss... do you need some help?"  I could barely catch my breath... I said "Yeah!!  That man is following me.. and he is scaring me!  I need some help."

The construction guy yelled at his fellow employees, "Come over here.. she needs help.  Who is following you?"  I replied, "That man!"  Just as I pointed to the gentleman across the street, he stopped, turned around and ran back towards the library.  The construction guy asked if we needed to call the cops.  I told him... "NO NO... just watch me and make sure I make it into the doorway of my dorm 300 feet from where we are standing."

NOTE:  Parents... this was another time where I should have called the cops and stayed with the construction workers until the cops arrived.  I SHOULD have REPORTED The Strange SOCIOPATH Gentleman to the police.  TO this DAY... I get a horrible knot in my stomach when I think about how I let this man go and potentially terrorize another female college student.

The construction workers watched me as I ran home and I waved at them as I was walking through the front doorway.

I swear... I was within moments away of being a rape victim, a kidnapped victim or even worse.

While working and living on the campus over the course of the next few years.  I smartened up.  I would hear of stories of girls getting raped at parties that I was at.  Many girls were too drunk to understand what was happening to them before it was too late.

I would hear about a sociopath who would come on campus and flash his penis at ladies in the library.  No one could catch this guy until after a few years of continual reporting of incidents like this happening.  (I heard from a retired cop from the campus area-that he was a sociopath and would masterbate in library while watching women come and go)

We would hear about a group of guys that came on campus after the bars closed to wait for a young victim (MALE) that would decide to walk home alone and they would attack violently.

It happens and rarely do you hear it reported unless someone is killed or badly beaten.

NO one wants to think that an university campus is unsafe!  Otherwise, every parent would be afraid to send their kid there.


MY PERSONAL STORY has prepared me to educate my children years before I send them off to college.  HERE Are just some suggestions for your college bound sweetheart!


During the summer prior to their first fall semester, take the time to educate your child of the dangers.

1.  LEARN SELF DEFENSE TECHNIQUES

2.  ENCOURAGE your child to always be in a group

3.  FIND out about CAMPUS SECURITY and what they offer to keep students safe

4.  ARM THEM with TOOLS to help with Self Defense

I carried an alarm that I could pull that would send off a loud signal.  I also had mace on a chain.  The mace I carried was cumbersome to use, however, they make wonderful mace guns that are fool proof and easy to use.

CLICK here to PURCHASE PEPPER SPRAY for WOMEN

MACE PINK Spray GUNS are amazing and I definitely encourage your child to have one on them at all times.

NOTE:  PARENTS Teach your child how to properly use a MACE Pepper Spray Gun 

CLICK here for a Great Link on Tricks to Using Pepper Spray at PEPPER SPRAY UNIVERSITY

Many sororities will offer self defense seminars for all of their actives or recruitments.

This is an awesome clip showing how Self Defense can be taught to a large group of women college students.  YOUR Child needs to know the basics in self defense.  IT could be the difference between victim or survivor.

PLEASE PLEASE as the summer is getting closer to the end and your precious first born is preparing for his/her first experience of college life......

PREPARE them to be self aware, confident, in control, and always aware of their surroundings!  Don't be a fool.. ask for help and always stay in groups!

The more confidence you can teach them the more confident you will feel when dropping off your offspring at the doorsteps of adulthood.

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Day at the Beach with Fellow Housewives! by real-housewife-of-tazewell featuring logo sunglasses

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ORIGINAL VIDEO - Bitchy Resting Face

BITCHY Resting FACE SYNDROME!!!

This is just too hilarious not to blog about!  We all know famous celebs that have the Bitch face when not posing!!???  We probably can name off a few friends that have chronic Bitchy Resting Face when not laughing their butts off with you!


But what are the classic signs of Bitchy Resting Face Syndrome???

Photo Courtesy of Kasey Brown from Pinterest

Here is the most HILARIOUS Youtube video/informercial of Bitchy Resting Face Syndrome (BRFS)

I love it... take some time to LAUGH... then you won't suffer from CHRONIC BITCHY RESTING FACE SYNDROME!!

CLARSONIC- If you don't have one -GET ONE!!! FABULOUS

Ok .... as a women who LOAVES the routine of cleaning my face and removing eye makeup before bed or even in the morning...... and has had my fair share of break outs ..... AND ... is fighting the wrinkle with every product on the market.... I AM Super EXCITED to blog about my new find....

The first time I tried the Clarisonic Mia - I felt that my skin was the cleaniest it has been outside of professional facials.

So easy to use and you can use whatever facial cleanser that you love!  It works the facial cleanser deeper into your pores and creates the most amazing after glow.  At first, my face wasn't used to such deep cleansing .... so I had a few additional breakouts.  However, my skin's pores feel tighter and my skin looks brighter.

If you don't wanna pay the price for the Clarisonic Facial Cleansing Systems....

Try the OLAY Professional Pro X.... Great alternative and you can save a few bucks!

Also ULTA has a DA (Dual Action) Cleansing Brush that works great and has additional brushes for acne, exfoliation etc.

MY Personal FAVE is the Clarisonic MIA - One speed does the trick for my skin.

The MIA 2 - I heard is amazing ...and offers 2 speeds as well as works great on elbows, knees, heels etc....

Check it out and tell me what you think!!!