Friendships: To Keep or Not to Keep?

Unfortunately, this is a question I seem to ask myself a lot. It’s kind of like the moment you decide to go crazy with the delete button on Facebook, something else I need to do. Last year I did away with the bad “friends” I had floating around. You know the type...people who talk about you behind your back, keep things from you that would be useful for you to know, enjoy stabbing the knife so deep into your back that their hand gets stuck...that type! 

That left me with a few really good friends, some mediocre friends, and acquaintances. Not too shabby right? That’s what I thought. Somewhere down the line, 1 or 2 of those really good friendships seemed to have come to a halt. Why you ask? Your guess is as good as mine. The last things I remember of those friendships are making dinner for said friends, and catching a movie with other said friends. Perhaps the meal I prepared was too bland? Should I have provided wine? Maybe I should have offered to pay for their movie ticket? Sprung for popcorn? Not quite sure what I did or didn’t do so if anyone has an idea, feel free to share.

Now for those mediocre friendships. Some of those mediocre friendships were originally placed in the really good friendships category, but got demoted to mediocre because somewhere down the line, they turned into one-way friendships. Try to stay with me folks. One-way friendships are those in which YOU are ALWAYS the one initiating conversation via text, Facebook etc..., YOU are ALWAYS the one making plans to hang out, YOU are ALWAYS the one to do cool and interesting things for the other person or people, YOU are ALWAYS the one to view plans falling through as disappointing and do what you can to reschedule, and YOU are the ONLY one who sees all of the above as problematic. 

Often I get sick of being the person carrying the friendship. Every now and then I conduct these little experiments to confirm that these little factors aren’t just all in my head. I’ll pick one of my mediocre friendships and stop being the person who initiates conversation and plans. You know what happens when I do that? Nothing, nothing at all. I don’t hear from them, I don’t see them, nothing! Depending on who this person is, I’ll usually end this experiment and text them a friendly “How’s it going? You wanna do something this weekend?”

However, 2012 may go a little differently. I’ll probably conduct this same experiment as usual, but once the silence settles in, that’ll be that. No more texting to see how they are, no more calling to make plans, no more commenting on their Facebook statuses (because they’ll have been deleted of course), no more! I’m 23, going on 24 in a few short months, in school working towards a degree in public relations, trying new things every week.....I don’t have time to fight for these types of friendships. One-way battles are too much work and often a waste of time. It sucks because I know that in doing this, I will lose friends that I really do care about. But is it worth it to keep people in your life that you love, but whose lives would be uninterrupted by the loss of you as a friend? 

Not 100% sure I’ll go through with this master plan, but it is definitely something that needs to be done. 

New Year, new things, new friendships...new Charmaine. 

 No More Drama- Mary J. Blige

Throwback Thursday- Christmas Parties

Visit the Santa's Workshop page for Throwback Thursday!

Section 2 For Life

That damn Brandon Logan beat me to this, but imma do it anyway....

I’m so happy I got put in the BEST section of first year CreComm. I have met so many amazingly hilarious, friendly, and talented people this semester and hope we all keep in touch....don’t get too comfy in your new section folks...section 2 for life! If you want to get to know these peeps better, I'll be adding links to their blogg later this week! 

P.S. If you section 2 peeps aren't following this blog yet, I think you should. That could be my Christmas gift :D

Laina- you have a quiet voice, but a lot to say. You are absolutely hilarious. I have two favourite moments of you. The first is when we were sitting together watching one of the talk shows, and going absolutely insane. The second is the little shake you did at the end of your live hit last week.

Sydnie- You have the softest skin I have ever felt. I remember hugging you at the marker social and it felt like my hands were seeping into whipped cream...ridonculous!

Brandon- Oh geeze. Brandon, you’re a funny guy and you know it. You’re ALWAYS talking and always having a good time, and I like that. My favourite thing about you is how smart you are; you’re a really talented writer and I know it’s going to take you far in life. Don’t lose your personality my friend!

Ryan- I like how often you use the word “Cute”…its cute! I also like how you remind me of a shaved Justin Timberlake, and how you’re always eating cute little homemade sandwiches.

Josie- So0o0o0o beautiful. And, you have one of the cutest happiest laughs I’ve ever heard. 

Katie- Kaite, Katie, Katie. I LOVE to bug ya kid. I’m gonna miss being in your class next semester, and I’m gonna miss how much you hate when I sit by you when you’re saving a seat for someone else :P Jokes aside, you are super cute! One thing everyone might not know is that Katie photographs BEAUTIFULLY! I creep her facebook albums more often that I’d like to admit, and these two pictures are some of my favourite of her!

Lauren- I didn’t really talk to you too much the first couple weeks of school. But then you sat next to me one day in radio class and you wouldn’t stop talking to yourself, and it made me laugh. We’ve been tight ever since lol. One interesting thing about you is that you like to say whatever pops into your head, without thinking it through. I know it sounds like a diss, but it’s something I like about ya kid. 

Kelly- You’re a pretty funny guy my dear. I appreciated how well you brought out your inner wolf for out monster talk show. I like how engaged you are in every class, mainly because sometimes it doesn’t seem like you’re paying attention, and then all of a sudden you’re starting a new discussion lol. 

Jamie- I don’t know what to say about you, kid. You always make me laugh with your impressions and you little comments about…EVERYTHING lol. You and I have a lot in common in terms of how we think, which is good because you often speak my mind so I don’t have to ;)

Justin- You seem like you would be a really good journalist, I can tell you’re a very hard worker. I often enjoy your little rants in class. 

Sarah- You have THE cutest little face, even if you didn’t have them dimples. You’re a really nice person and everything you say or do is so genuine. Even though you are a really sweet girl, I know you can kick ass if you needed to. Afterall, you did beat me in our arm wrestle at the marker social…you actually hurt me a bit lol. But I forgive you!

Jackie- LOVE the new bangs. My favourite memory of you is when you called everyone pathetic during one of your presentations at the beginning of the year lol. You and I will always share a secret love of….you know who ;)

Lindsay- One of my favourite gingers! I like the little chats we have, especially the ones about Brandon lol. You remind me so0o0o much of Emma Stone, and trust me, that’s a good thing! Looking forward to our club night over the break!

Kirah- “That juicy” is what I’m always going to hear in my head when I think of you from now on. You totally rocked your live hit and we all knew you were going to win. Great job woman!

Mitch- You remind me so much of the guy in the movie Drop Dead Fred. My favourite memory of you is when you were reading a children’s book for your TV editorial. You’re always smiling and always happy and I dig it. 

Jaylin- you are always crazy hyper woman! I like sitting next to you in class cause sometimes your energy rubs off on me. I really hope you’re in my section next semester…I’ll need the energy boost!

Monique- You have such a poetic elegance about you. Sometimes I see you sitting alone on your laptop or just looking out the window and I always wish I had a camera….not in a creepy way I promise. You’re just so effortlessly beautiful, it’s something any photographer would kill to capture. 

Allison- At the beginning of the year I was curious how you’d be able to handle this course because you’re almost fresh out of high school. But I’m happy to say that you’re handling yourself really well. Aaaaaaand, I agree that you win best dressed for our live hits!

Megan- You’re always so happy, and so peppy, and so excited about everything. I love it! 

Mark- My man Marquis. I took the bus today while you ran, and you beat me to school! Me no like that, lol. You are the KING of technology and I hope you’re in my section next semester because there will be many times when I’ll need your expertise. My favourite moment of you, happened at the marker social between you and Brandon…you know what I’m talking about!

Alex- Big shooter…best nickname ever. I hope it carries on for the rest of CreComm. You always have at least one really interesting question a day that I always enjoy. 

Kyle- You’re a very humble guy, but I know you’re one of the smartest people in the class. You do really good Brandon imitations that are ridiculously funny!

Maria- Aww Maria,so cute. “Afghan Buismann” lol, love it. Thanks for people the best class rep eva!

Kristin- So0o0oo0o good at EVERYTHING! I don’t know how you do it woman, but you so talented at everything you do. I’m glad you’re in my section next year, you can be my tutor!

THROWBACK THURSDAY- Lip Smackers

 Remember when you were a kid and Lip Smackers were a big deal? They were definitely a big deal to me. I loved how they had so0o0o0o many different flavours and how every pack was bright and colourful. I think one of my favourites was cotton candy. I also remember when some of my friends used to chomp on  them like they were candy...I didn't enjoy that part. I'm ashamed to admit it, but when I was in grade 6 and 7, I was a part of a "stealing club". Ya, we thought we were cool. We mostly took candy and make-up from what I remember, and the newest flavour of Lip Smackers was always at the top of our lists. Don't worry folks, I kicked my devious stealing ways near the end of grade 7. Now that I'm an "adult", I of course earn myself a paycheck, and so I decided it was time to splurge and BUY myself a fancy pack of Lip Smackers. Right now I'm using the Vanilla Coke flavour and it is gooood; $8 at Walmart well spent!

Charmaine's Sexytime Productions

* Sexual Content

November 26th was my friend Kayla's 21st birthday. I know I know....she's old, but beautiful. 21 is a big deal and I wanted to get her something special and useful for her big day. I like to think I'm a creative person and from time to time I come up with....I don't want to sound conceited....oh I'll just say it...I come up with GENIUS ideas. For example:

P.S. I cleaned up some of the language a bit, but I'd be more than willing to email out the original if you would like a more detailed read!

Kayla's Sex Kit

Compliments of Charmaine's Sexytime Productions

Follow these key steps for the ultimate sexual experience!

Cleanliness 

Being clean is an important part of enjoying sex. Nobody wants to knock boots with someone’s who’s dirty, smelly, and doesn’t care about their personal hygiene. 

In this kit you will find:

1.       Body Wash- be sure to spend extra time lathering your body, this will ensure that you are extra clean, and will stimulate you before intercourse

2.        Shampoo and Conditioner- when being intimate with your partner, the sweet smell of your hair will fill his nose, stimulating his senses  

3.       Razor and Shaving Gel- soft hair-free skin reduces friction and makes it easier to slip and slide all over your partner’s body

4.       Toothpaste and Toothbrush- having fresh smelling breath is a no brainer. While panting and screaming in extreme pleasure, you’ll want to release nothing but fresh breath

5.       Deodorant- if you’re sex is going good, you are likely to get hot and sticky from sweating and you don’t want that sweat to create an underarm odor. This will make it make it more enjoyable for your partner when he slowly runs his lips from your wrists, all the way up your soft and supple arms

Foreplay 

If you want to have fantastic sex then you need to get things heated up with some foreplay. Some men will try their best to get this stage out of the way as fast as possible but you need to be firm. It's essential that you take time to get all the sensual hot spots warmed up before you go for the main event. There's no point in jumping straight in all guns blazing because it simply won't feel as good.

Also by missing out on foreplay you’re also depriving yourself of an easy peasy orgasm. Just 15 mins of touching, kissing and licking in the right places will have you screaming with pleasure. If your guy is a bit reluctant (or just plain rubbish) when it comes to foreplay then don't be shy about giving him a helping hand. Most men will find it a total turn on to watch a girl enjoy herself so why not surprise him with a solo show one night. Not only will you get to enjoy yourself the way you know best but you will also give him a few hints about what feels good for you. If he still insists on rushing things then be assertive. Tell him to slow down. Reassure him he will get everything on the menu eventually but you want to enjoy the starter for a bit longer first.

(Foreplay Tips brought to you by http://www.femalefirst.co.uk)

In this kit you will find:

1.      Grape Fanta Chapstick- no one wants to kiss dry and crusty lips. Keep them smooth and sweet smelling

2.       Body Lotion- soft skin is an attractive quality women have. Your partner will love running his strong hands up and down your body.

3.       Baby Oil- take turns giving each other massages with the oil. It will stimulate your senses and give you both a chance to explore each other’s bodies before intercourse takes place

In-Sex Use

Not everyone is ready to have sex. Make sure it is something you want to do, and not something your partner pressures you into doing. Sex should be fun and pleasurable, not something you rush through just to get it over with. And remember…SAFETY FIRST!!!!!!!!!

In this kit you will find:

1.       Condoms- condoms help prevent pregnancy and STDs. If he tells you he doesn’t like to use them…THEN SHOW HIM THE DOOR, and not your vagina.

2.       Lubrication- lube helps the penis the softly penetrate the vagina or the anus. Not using lube (especially for anal sex), can lead to an awkward and painful experience. If you’re having gold old vagina sex, it’s not as necessary if you’re already wet, or if you have lubricated condoms

After Sex

You just shared an intimate experience with your partner. Don’t be afraid to cuddle with him after and mindfully reflect on the love-making that just occurred. 

In this kit you will find:

1.       A box of Lindor Chocolates- share them with your partner, or keep them for yourself. If you’re a huge chocolate lover, this will give you added pleasure. 

"Sex is dirty, only if it's done right"- Woody Allen 

If you would like to receive your own Sex Kit compliments of Charmaine's Sexytime Productions (not a real company...yet ;) ) inbox me via facebook and you just might get one for Christmas or your birthday. (Tips and gift items may vary)

Encounter: An Evening with Peter Mansbridge

(Post originally written November 7, 2011)

RECAP & 10 Planning Event Tips- Encounter: An Evening with Peter Mansbridge- November 4, 2011

     What an event! My evening with Peter Mansbridge was exceptional. Let’s start at the beginning. After we checked out coats (for free) and before we walked into the room, my fellow CreCommer Lauren and I checked the board outside of the room to see where we were seated. As we walked through the doors all I could think about was how beautiful and elegant the room looked. The specialty room on the second floor was filled nicely decorated tables, white silk covered seats (I don’t think t was actual silk), and blue lights streaming along each pillar in the room. 

 TIP #1: As soon as people walk into your venue, you want them to instantly feel that have already gotten their money’s worth, and to anticipate how much they are going to enjoy the rest of the evening. 

    There was a woman sitting at a table by the entrance and I assumed she was there to check our tickets; not the case. Lauren and I just walked straight into the room without anyone asking to see proof of ticket purchase. Technically, we could have been average Janes dressed up looking for any nearby events we could get into, which would have saved us each $65, or saved a non-student $200. Not a big deal, just and observation. 

TIP #2: When planning your event, be sure to have 1 or 2 people at the door taking tickets. For events such as this, it’s not likely that many people are going to try and sneak in, but it’s possible!

     Lauren and I wanted to find the other students from our class so we did a lap around the room, looking for our table. Each table had the same beautiful centrepiece, surrounded by elegantly set cutlery, each set complete with a glass of water topped with cranberries for that extra touch of class.

 TIP #3: Subtle and inexpensive things like putting a few cranberries in a glass of water, can leave a lasting impression and can really spruce up the look of an event!

     On our tickets it said “Cocktails: 6PM, Dinner: 7PM”. My plan was to get there by 6:15 but I didn’t get there until around 6:45. Had I left earlier I would have had the pleasure of enjoying FREE martinis during the first hour of the event, as opposed to the one free cosmo I was able to squeeze in at 6:52. Of course, this wasn’t the type of event where people go to consume a lot of alcohol, so I accepted my missed opportunity and saw it as a way to help me stay classy (self-justification). 

TIP #4: If you plan on putting on an event in which the tickets are relatively expensive ($200 for example), it is a good idea to supply your guests with FREE drinks at some point during the night. It’s ideal to have this free period at the beginning because not only is it less hassle, but it’s an incentive to get people in the door early, especially if you want them seated for dinner by a certain time. There was also one bottle of white wine, and one bottle of red wine on every table, which is also a good idea. 

     At 7PM on the dot, Ace Burpee officially started the event as the MC. Burpee, as you may know from hot 103, is a really funny and entertaining MC. He makes himself available for a number of different events and is definitiely a Winnipeg favourite. 

 TIP #5: Having an MC (Master of Ceremonies) that is well known can create buzz for your event, entertain your guests, and gives your event a sense of credibility. 

     After Burpee gave his opening speech, dinner started to come one course at a time. 

Raspberry Sorbet

Salmon

Raspberry Chocolate Charlotte

Beef Tenderloin

TIP #6: Many fancy events have different courses for dinner, as opposed to a main dish and dessert, or a buffet. Tailor the food you choose to suit the type and price of your event.

     At the start of each course different presentations took place on the two TV screens in the room. As mentioned in my previous post, the purpose of the event was to raise money for the Children’s Rehabilitation Foundation and the Tallman Foundation. I liked that presentation were playing throughout dinner, but I would have started them around 10 minutes into each course. If you were sitting with your back turned to the screens, you had to stop eating to turn around and watch, while your food got cold. If you continued eating and didn’t watch the videos, it looked like you didn’t care.

TIP #7: It’s good to having something going on during dinner, but make sure to do it in such a way that people can enjoy their meal at the same time. Perhaps have something less important streaming in the background and have the important foundation videos after each course to get full attention. 

     During dessert was keynote speaker Peter Mansbridge. I won’t critique his speech but as you can assume, it was really good.

TIP #8: A good keynote speaker is what ties your event together. It can be the sole reason for the attendance of half your guests. And like having a good MC, a keynote speaker should add entertainment value, as well as credibility. 

     After Mansbridge’s speech, the live auction started. Things being auctioned off were: statues, an in-house dinner for 8, a trip for two to Toronto, etc. From the bidding I heard, it sounded like a lot of money was raised from the live auction alone. There was also a silent auction going on as well (the kind where people write down their bids and the highest bid written down at the end of the night, buys that prize)

TIP #9: Live and silent auctions are a FANTASTIC way to raise money. But you do have to consider the type of crowd you are expecting. For example, if you were to hold an event I which you were targeting students as guests, and live auction that starts prizes off at $5000, wouldn’t be reasonable or ideal. 

     I know this has been an EXTREMELY long post, but I hope some of you were able to find it helpful or entertaining. Although there were a couple of minor details of the event that I would have done differently, overall, it was well put together and seemed to be really well received. 

P.S. Parting gifts = Good!

TIP #10: Stay tuned to see which upcoming events I shall attend next!

Mansbridge Anticipation

 (Post originally created Novmeber 4, 2011)


Encounter: An Evening with Peter Mansbridge- November 4, 2011

   

     In 20 minutes I will be putting on a fancy dress, powdering my nose, and slipping on my shiny shoes to rub elbows with Peter Mansbridge. For those of you who don’t know, Mansbridge is a Canadian broadcaster and news anchor, and is the CBC News Chief Correspondent and anchor of The National.

Tonight’s event, Encounter: An Evening with Peter Mansbridge, is a fundraiser to raise money for the Children’s Rehabilitation Foundation, as well as the Tallman Foundation. Tickets are $200 each, but my journalism instructor, Joanne Kelly, was able to get CreComm students $65 ticket pricing. 

     I have been to galas and fundraisers before, but I haven’t been to one where ticket costs were so expensive. Which leads me to the following questions: “What does a $200 per person event look like, how is it promoted, and how to you get people to pay so much?” 

     I haven’t noticed too much promotion in terms of posters and such. I came across one poster at the downtown IGA, and twice noticed an ad for the event on the side of a bus. One reason I think I haven’t noticed too much event advertising, is because I don’t believe this event is targeted towards students. Most students are on an extremely tight budget, and paying $200 for an event is likely to be out of the question. Also, Peter Mansbridge is an icon that an older crowd would recognize and be interested in. Because I am not the apart of the target audience, it makes sense that I wouldn’t have come across a ton of promotion. 

      I would love to write more but I really should get ready. (Cute dress I know)

Public Relations

Although I do have a few more months before I have to decide on a major for the second half on my Creative Communications degree, I know (and knew before I was even accepted into the program) that I’m going to be a PR major. I’m only into my third month of school, and I’m already excited for all of the different career opportunities and hands-on experience I’m going to gain once I finish my degree.

 (Pictures of Excitement)

     Although I’m still in the early learning stages of PR, what it means and how it works, I want to take what I’m learning and see how different functions of PR work outside of the classroom. As of right now, one aspect of PR that really interests me is events that are put on to raise money, raise awareness, and are organized for general promotion.  I’m hoping to attend as many of these events as my budget and my calendar will allow, and post about the purpose of the event, type of event, how it was promoted, and how it turned out. My main focus will be on events, but I will post about other different areas as well. I will also include a few things that I’ve done (or tried to do), explaining what worked, what didn’t, and what I should have done differently. If you any questions or comments about anything, don’t hesitate to email me: charmainejennings@hotmail.com, send me a twitter message:  @charmsjj, or post your comment directly on the blog.