Below are some frequently asked questions I have encountered multiple times. Instead of answering them over and over, I figure it's easier to direct your attention here!
What editing software do you use?
Adobe Creative Suite 5: (Photoshop Pro, Adobe After Effects, Premiere Elements).
How did you create your watermark and can you create one for me?
I created my watermark using Adobe Photoshop. I save the file as either a .psd or .png file so the background will remain transparent. Then I import it as a picture into my Adobe Premiere Elements. I have been doing a lot of playing around recently with my blogs with various design elements. I have considered selling headers, tags, logos, etc. but I'm not sure the client base is there.
Who did you lose weight?
Around Halloween 2008, Kaitlin (my daughter) and I got really sick. I ended up losing 10 lbs because I couldn't keep foods down. The first week of November I decided I needed to get myself in gear and try to take more off. I pulled out my South Beach Diet cookbooks and got on the ball. I've lost around 90 lbs so far (as of 07.10). I took a break with my weight loss when I took on a new job (promotion) and allowed the stress to get to me. I use SparkPeople to help me track my calories, carbs, fat, water intake, and exercise. It's fabulous and FREE.
How do you deal with haters?
At first I definitely did not deal with haters. I couldn't understand why someone in the cyber world would be interested in me. I got haters right away - again I still wonder WHY?! Why ME?! I'm a nobody! I would tell them to go away and whatnot then I realized that got old. I would always tell my kids to ignore mean people and bullies so I started doing the same. Now I delete their comments and usually just laugh about it on twitter. This worked until the hate disappeared from the YouTube videos (something I can thank my faithful subscribers for - they stand up for what they believe in and usually talk back to the trolls). The hate now appears on disgusting tabloid type blogs where anonymous people talk about others because they are too insecure with themselves (Thank you Blogger for shutting down the main ones). They also talk about people on twitter.
Unfortunately, hate and drama is at an all-time high in the beauty community. I will sit back and ignore it until it affects my real life. My world in the beauty/blogging community is completely separate from my life in education and now, hopefully writing. I do everything in my power to keep those separate. This is my corner of the world and if you have something against me, you don't have to watch me or read what I have to say. You don't have to follow my tweets or come to my BlogTVs. Simple as that. Don't say something about someone else if you aren't ready to have them stand up for themselves.
How did you become a YouTube Partner?
There are actual rules to becoming parter. Rules I didn't understand at first. When someone applies you don't want to think you are going to be denied. Truth was - I WAS...twice. I didn't understand WHY they denied me until I talked to other guru's who had been denied. I realized it was due to my music. So I went back and deleted the music. Not all of it though. Applied again and got the same - no - so I went back and deleted the rest of my videos with music. Third time was a charm because I got it.
A word of caution though: Don't think because you become a partner, you are going to become famous and make tons of money. Just as only a few writers become an overnight success like Stephenie Meyers, not everyone makes tons of money on YouTube. For example: I DO NOT. While I do get paid every month, it's not what you might think. #makingpennies
I would tell those of you that are interested in becoming YouTube Partner there is a specific number of views and subscribers you have to have, but that is just not the case. You can't apply till you have over 500 subscribers but everything is taken into consideration - where you are located - what kind of videographer are you (guru, director, comedian, etc)- it's a toss up really. Good luck if you apply though!
How can you wear smaller sizes than me but weigh more?
I want to preface this question by saying that you have to remember every body is different. I KNOW I still weigh a lot. I KNOW my numbers are large and I am under the 200 lb mark. I also KNOW my body is shaped in such a curvasious manner that I have a much smaller waist than your average 200 lb person. I used to be ashamed to say that number, but after losing what I have lost to say I weigh that much is a great victory for me. I am able to wear US size 12/14 dress pants, khaki's, and capri's. I am able to wear US size 10 dresses. All of these clothes I can wear because of how my body is proportioned. I can wear size M tops (well some, anyway) because of how my body is shaped.
The best advice I can give anyone on sizes is THROW OUT THE NUMBER SYSTEM! Try on clothes till you find what fits your body.
I went to NY&Co in the mall over the summer and just grabbed a pair of pants off the clearance rack. Didn't look at the size. Tried them on. One leg - then the other. Zipper. Looked at the tag - SIZE 8!!! How is that possible? Well these pants were made with 5% spandex - that's how. They were stretchier than most clothes I might buy. It was how the pants were made. Did it make me feel good? YES, YES it did :) Am I a size 8? No. Not yet. But I am in that particular pant. Works for me. So wear what fits your body. The End.
Why do people accuse you of photoshoping your pictures?
I used to post weight loss vlogs every week talking about how I did and that sort of thing. It became very tedious and I stopped (mainly due to lack of time). Now I only post weight loss vlogs when I make a goal (every 25 lbs) and then I show a full body shot. Many people out there that have taken it upon themselves to see me fail at everything I try, have accused my pictures to be altered. I have never altered my pictures to make me look slimmer, nor would I want to. My goal is to show everyone how much weight I have lost even though I still am not perfect (and after 2 children probably never will be). Instead of being upset about these completely false accusations, I find it flattering. That means these people have had to admit that I am slimmer and now they have less reason to find fault with me.
What's your favorite food?
My love for food is what got me to where I am today. Losing weight. I love Italian and Mexican foods and seafood. My favorite dessert ever is CHERRY CHEESECAKE with a close second being carrot cake. Is Starbucks a food group? If not - it should be! Pumpkin Spice Latte is a pleasure during the fall.
If you weren't a teacher what would you be?
I went to school to be a Physical Therapist. I changed my major to Biology after a Genetics class and wanted to go to grad school to be a Genetic Counselor. Instead I got married and had a child. I realized by the time I graduated with my degree in Biology that I needed money so I became a teacher. I'd still LOVE to do something in the health care profession. I wanted to be a doctor from the age of 7. Maybe something in medicine will be after I retire from education! Of course, that is considering I'm unable to turn writing into a full time job. It currently absorbs every minute I'm not working or doing something with my family or sleeping.
I heard you mention you were writing a book. What is it about?
Yes, I #amwriting as you will see me post on twitter. For those of you that don't know the # (hashtag) system allows people to track similar phrases and using programs like TweetDeck find out what others are doing. When I type #amwriting in my tweets, I can see what other writers are going through and we strike up conversations and offer encouragement. Twitter has become a giant support system full of encouragement.
I actually just finished my first young adult fiction novel. It has a supernatural twist (mainly because growing up my favorite authors were Christopher Pike and Stephen King) and I enjoyed the world I created where whatever I say goes! Currently: NO VAMPIRES. As for the sequel: SWEET SACRIFICE - I can't promise.
| [+/-] |
FAQ |
Below are some frequently asked questions I have encountered multiple times. Instead of answering them over and over, I figure it's easier to direct your attention here!
What editing software do you use?
Adobe Creative Suite 5: (Photoshop Pro, Adobe After Effects, Premiere Elements).
How did you create your watermark and can you create one for me?
I created my watermark using Adobe Photoshop. I save the file as either a .psd or .png file so the background will remain transparent. Then I import it as a picture into my Adobe Premiere Elements. I have been doing a lot of playing around recently with my blogs with various design elements. I have considered selling headers, tags, logos, etc. but I'm not sure the client base is there.
Who did you lose weight?
Around Halloween 2008, Kaitlin (my daughter) and I got really sick. I ended up losing 10 lbs because I couldn't keep foods down. The first week of November I decided I needed to get myself in gear and try to take more off. I pulled out my South Beach Diet cookbooks and got on the ball. I've lost around 90 lbs so far (as of 07.10). I took a break with my weight loss when I took on a new job (promotion) and allowed the stress to get to me. I use SparkPeople to help me track my calories, carbs, fat, water intake, and exercise. It's fabulous and FREE.
How do you deal with haters?
At first I definitely did not deal with haters. I couldn't understand why someone in the cyber world would be interested in me. I got haters right away - again I still wonder WHY?! Why ME?! I'm a nobody! I would tell them to go away and whatnot then I realized that got old. I would always tell my kids to ignore mean people and bullies so I started doing the same. Now I delete their comments and usually just laugh about it on twitter. This worked until the hate disappeared from the YouTube videos (something I can thank my faithful subscribers for - they stand up for what they believe in and usually talk back to the trolls). The hate now appears on disgusting tabloid type blogs where anonymous people talk about others because they are too insecure with themselves (Thank you Blogger for shutting down the main ones). They also talk about people on twitter.
Unfortunately, hate and drama is at an all-time high in the beauty community. I will sit back and ignore it until it affects my real life. My world in the beauty/blogging community is completely separate from my life in education and now, hopefully writing. I do everything in my power to keep those separate. This is my corner of the world and if you have something against me, you don't have to watch me or read what I have to say. You don't have to follow my tweets or come to my BlogTVs. Simple as that. Don't say something about someone else if you aren't ready to have them stand up for themselves.
How did you become a YouTube Partner?
There are actual rules to becoming parter. Rules I didn't understand at first. When someone applies you don't want to think you are going to be denied. Truth was - I WAS...twice. I didn't understand WHY they denied me until I talked to other guru's who had been denied. I realized it was due to my music. So I went back and deleted the music. Not all of it though. Applied again and got the same - no - so I went back and deleted the rest of my videos with music. Third time was a charm because I got it.
A word of caution though: Don't think because you become a partner, you are going to become famous and make tons of money. Just as only a few writers become an overnight success like Stephenie Meyers, not everyone makes tons of money on YouTube. For example: I DO NOT. While I do get paid every month, it's not what you might think. #makingpennies
I would tell those of you that are interested in becoming YouTube Partner there is a specific number of views and subscribers you have to have, but that is just not the case. You can't apply till you have over 500 subscribers but everything is taken into consideration - where you are located - what kind of videographer are you (guru, director, comedian, etc)- it's a toss up really. Good luck if you apply though!
How can you wear smaller sizes than me but weigh more?
I want to preface this question by saying that you have to remember every body is different. I KNOW I still weigh a lot. I KNOW my numbers are large and I am under the 200 lb mark. I also KNOW my body is shaped in such a curvasious manner that I have a much smaller waist than your average 200 lb person. I used to be ashamed to say that number, but after losing what I have lost to say I weigh that much is a great victory for me. I am able to wear US size 12/14 dress pants, khaki's, and capri's. I am able to wear US size 10 dresses. All of these clothes I can wear because of how my body is proportioned. I can wear size M tops (well some, anyway) because of how my body is shaped.
The best advice I can give anyone on sizes is THROW OUT THE NUMBER SYSTEM! Try on clothes till you find what fits your body.
I went to NY&Co in the mall over the summer and just grabbed a pair of pants off the clearance rack. Didn't look at the size. Tried them on. One leg - then the other. Zipper. Looked at the tag - SIZE 8!!! How is that possible? Well these pants were made with 5% spandex - that's how. They were stretchier than most clothes I might buy. It was how the pants were made. Did it make me feel good? YES, YES it did :) Am I a size 8? No. Not yet. But I am in that particular pant. Works for me. So wear what fits your body. The End.
Why do people accuse you of photoshoping your pictures?
I used to post weight loss vlogs every week talking about how I did and that sort of thing. It became very tedious and I stopped (mainly due to lack of time). Now I only post weight loss vlogs when I make a goal (every 25 lbs) and then I show a full body shot. Many people out there that have taken it upon themselves to see me fail at everything I try, have accused my pictures to be altered. I have never altered my pictures to make me look slimmer, nor would I want to. My goal is to show everyone how much weight I have lost even though I still am not perfect (and after 2 children probably never will be). Instead of being upset about these completely false accusations, I find it flattering. That means these people have had to admit that I am slimmer and now they have less reason to find fault with me.
What's your favorite food?
My love for food is what got me to where I am today. Losing weight. I love Italian and Mexican foods and seafood. My favorite dessert ever is CHERRY CHEESECAKE with a close second being carrot cake. Is Starbucks a food group? If not - it should be! Pumpkin Spice Latte is a pleasure during the fall.
If you weren't a teacher what would you be?
I went to school to be a Physical Therapist. I changed my major to Biology after a Genetics class and wanted to go to grad school to be a Genetic Counselor. Instead I got married and had a child. I realized by the time I graduated with my degree in Biology that I needed money so I became a teacher. I'd still LOVE to do something in the health care profession. I wanted to be a doctor from the age of 7. Maybe something in medicine will be after I retire from education! Of course, that is considering I'm unable to turn writing into a full time job. It currently absorbs every minute I'm not working or doing something with my family or sleeping.
I heard you mention you were writing a book. What is it about?
Yes, I #amwriting as you will see me post on twitter. For those of you that don't know the # (hashtag) system allows people to track similar phrases and using programs like TweetDeck find out what others are doing. When I type #amwriting in my tweets, I can see what other writers are going through and we strike up conversations and offer encouragement. Twitter has become a giant support system full of encouragement.
I actually just finished my first young adult fiction novel. It has a supernatural twist (mainly because growing up my favorite authors were Christopher Pike and Stephen King) and I enjoyed the world I created where whatever I say goes! Currently: NO VAMPIRES. As for the sequel: SWEET SACRIFICE - I can't promise.
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