Gal Gab: Celebrity "Lifestyle" Sites

Maybe it's just the longevity of the site, but I think Gwenyth is killing it with goop.  The site encompasses everything a lifestyle site/blog should, beauty, fashion, exercise/health, food and more (just like us!).

With the recent launch of Blake Lively's site, The Preserve, a different approach was taken.  As a new site, there is not a ton of content on there, but what is on there has some fruitful writing, but not sure how many people it appeals to.  The shop items are a bit obscure, but the site is up front about being a for-profit business as 5% of proceeds are donated to charity, like goop.

This week I discovered another lifestyle site, Amore & Vita, by actor Shay Mitchell.  I am not ashamed to be a fan of Shay and admire her grace in the celebrity world.  Shay writes with a friend, Michaela Blaney, which us JUGs can relate to being part of the blogging fun.  The two post according to a weekly theme, and I think this site is really going places

What do you think of these lifestyle sites?  Which celebrities are getting it right?

- Meredith

Daily Read: Date Eats

Us JUGs have respect for sarcasm and it always feels like a win when you find others that feel the same way.  When I came across the blog DateEats last week, I was instantly hooked and immediately read each post.  As someone in the singles "scene," dating opinions tend to be heavy since it is a pretty serious topic.  The (anonymous?) author of DateEats, however, refreshingly sheds some humor on dating in Boston.

The author, "Chief" also rates restaurants in recommending them as date venues for his readers, which is always helpful advice, especially for a first date, in addition to remembering this. Other favorite tips of mine are here, here and here, great examples of why manners are so important and valued.  I had to laugh reading this, because this happened to me on a first date and was one of the main reasons why I didn't want to see the guy again (don't get my wrong, I respect getting a bargain, but the mention of the discount 4x was overkill).

Now, I have to wonder, with the blog continuing, "Chief" must still be single, right?!  Even if he's been scooped up, let's hope the snarky reviews and recommendations keep coming!  With all of the North End mentions, it's tough to find something I do not like about this blog.  Whether you need ideas on where to dine, or a guy's perspective on the beast that is dating, or simply want a laugh, bookmark it today!

- Meredith

all photos from DateEats

Book Club Discussion Questions for OITNB

This month, we're tackling the book behind the buzz. Before there was the TV show, there was Orange the New Black, Piper Kerman's memoir about her year in prison in 2004. Not only does this help us draw comparisons between the Netflix series and Kerman's real life account, but also raises some questions about the U.S. criminal justice system.

1. Give the book a grade, A-F.

2. What was one thing you learned from the book that you didn't previously realize about prison?

3. Did you find Kerman's writing style preachy or inspiring?

4. After reading this book, what is the one change you'd like to see in the prison system?

5. Do you feel more sympathetic to convicted felons than you did before reading the book?

6. More people are locked up in the U.S. than any other country. Why is this?

7. Did Kerman's punishment fit her crime? How about the other inmates?

8. How did her socio-economic status, race, and gender affect her time in prison? Her story? Does it make her story more or less credible?

9. Should prisons be privately-owned or run by the government?

10. Does the Netflix series do the book justice? In what ways is it better or worse than the book?

11. How would you adapt to prison life?

- Cameron

Baseball Babes

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The Red Sox roster is lookin' pretty steamy this season. First there's Miller, who has a mess of facial hair but, Boston girls are into it, duh. Next up is boy-next-door Daniel Nava...I mean, those photos speak for themselves. Then, haha, Sizemore.....turns out this guy is really into taking nude selfies, so don't google-image-stalk him at work.

oh wait......there's more:

The new guy, Ryan Roberts is perf for ladies that love tattoos. His nickname on the Diamondbacks was Tatman. And finally, Bogaerts is on our watchlist for "cuties of the future" because he is only 21!

So, see ya at Fenway? Thought so.

- Cameron

Gal Gab: Mayoral Election

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Today (sadly) marks the end of an era.  Mayor Thomas Menino has been our fearless leader with a two-decade reign.  He has molded our city into quite a place to be proud of, especially this past year.  His grand accomplishments include creating the Innovation District, multiple green initiatives, maintaining a strong economy during the national debt crisis and countless others. Each of the Irish-American candidates have quite a hometown pull, making it as important as ever for us millennials without those loyalties to voice our choice!

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Hot topics are of course education, development (I'm wondering how things may change with the BRA...) Read and listen up on candidates Connolly and Walsh here to make sure you know their views on major subjects.  Voting locations can be found here, and polls are open from 7am to 8pm.

Go vote!

- Meredith

Surviving the Commuter Rail

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I recently took a job in the suburbs which means commuting by the dreaded commuter rail. I'm three weeks in, and I have to say, once you get the hang of it, the commuter rail is a snap. Here is my gal's guide to traveling by train:

1. Download the MBTA app. While other train schedule apps like Embark are helpful for T riders, when taking the commuter rail, nothing can substitute for the real thing. The app is KEY because you can buy your ticket on your phone which saves time and money. 

2. Check alerts. Once you have the MBTA app, check for alerts on your commuter rail line about an hour before taking the train. This is a HUGE time saver. If you know ahead of time that your train is 15 mins late, you can use that precious time to hit dunks, or send a few snapchats to your gal pals rather than stand at a creepy train station for an unnecessary amount of time.

3. Pick a two-seater spot that faces forward. I am very prone to motion sicknesses, and though the train rides are often smoother than the average green line adventure, it is still very helpful to face forward. Sitting in a two seater reduces the likeliness that you'll have to sit next to a smelly stranger with ineffective headphones.

4. Speaking of headphones, BRING SOME. Even if you plan to read or snooze, having a pair of headphones nearby can come in handy, especially if a pack of gossipy teeny-boppers decide to sit behind you. Learning the latest ways underage kids score beer is really not what I feel like listening to after a long exhausting day at work. (Wow, I sound old, but you know you agree!)

5. Breath deeply. Yoga and meditation skills can help reduce anxiety when your train is running late, or the smelly dude sits next to you, or if the teeny boppers start singing Bieber. Just breath. You will survive. You've dealt with worse.

Voila! No more hell on wheels!

- Cameron

Gal Gab: Off to Charleston!

As much as I love city living, there is nothing better than the occasional break.  A true confession of mine is that I am awful at taking taking time off from work.  However, a close friend of mine just got a new job, and asked if I wanted to go away.  It took me less than one second to consider a celebratory trip, it was just a matter of where we would go!

We decided on Charleston, SC, and leave this weekend!  We have both wanted to explore this city that I've heard is full of southern hospitality.  Have you been to Charleston?  What are some "must-sees?"  I think I've covered some, but would appreciate your recommendations!  Aside from shopping and watering holes on King Street I've read up on, here are a few items on the agenda:

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Later, ya'll (too soon?)!

- Meredith

Advice from the JUGS

We hope you all can make it to the Gilt City Warehouse Sale hosted by the Revere Hotel this weekend.  We'll be attending the pre-sale party Friday and will be sure to keep you updated on all the sale items. It's a great time to start stocking up for fall or nab some last minute Labor Day outfits, so we're sure you won't be disappointed!

If you haven't bought your tickets yet head over to Gilt City and grab them before they go!

- Suzanne

photo source

Gal Gab: Safety Tips for City Living

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TGIF, especially after a jarring week here in Boston.  Amy Lord, 24, was kidnapped and killed after her attacker had her withdraw money from various ATMs in the South Boston area, on her way to the gym. Without being experts on this topic, we cannot stress enough how important awareness is when living in a city.  Sure, there are multiple tips to remember.  It is unfortunate that tragic stories snap us back into reality when we may be a bit too comfortable in our city, ignoring the potential dangers that may be around us.

We hope you take a few minutes to read through tips and change something about your attitude when you may be walking home alone at night.  Please comment or tweet with something you believe may be helpful to other readers. 

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Lord family.

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- Meredith

Top 10 Takeaways from Media Math's Future Series Event

Earlier this month, Meredith, Suzanne, and I attended Media Math's Future Series event at the Liberty Hotel. The keynote of the evening was given by Adam Grossman, SVP of Marketing for the Red Sox. He was an insightful speaker, and his marketing advice can be easily applicable for any Boston gal trying to make it in business! Here are our top 10 pieces of marketing advice from the night:

-Apathy is worse than anger in marketing. This makes sense right? I mean, we've all heard the phrase "there is no such thing as bad publicity." Use any negative commentary as a guide for how to communicate the positives (Red Sox example: What's Broken Can Be Fixed).

-Communicate authentically and directly. With social media tools like twitter, facebook, and blogs, communicating directly at a personal level is easier than ever, and audiences love it.

-Engage and grow your fanbase. Engagement spreads. The more followers you have on various media outlets, and the more active they are, the more potential fans will want to follow you.

-Build faith by appealing to emotions. Build passion in your message. For Adam Grossman, that one is easy, because:

-Stamp your message. Whats the point of getting your message out to the public if people don't end up knowing where it is coming from!

-Delete clutter in your message. Build a clear, succinct mission statement.

-An image is worth 1,000 tweets

-Figure out what your fans need and offer it to them without losing authenticity. Grossman was able to do this by offering wifi at Fenway. What do your consumers want that fits within the constraints of your mission statement?

-Use analytics as a compass. Aren't sure what your fans want? Track what garners the most interest by paying attention to your web analytics.

-Reward loyalty. This means different things for different businesses, but your supporters are what make your business possible and you should thank them accordingly.

As the JUGs continue to meet young career gals through our "Who's That Gal" series, we look forward to seeing these marketing and business tips at work!

-Cameron

Gal Gab: The CapeFLYER

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Gals, this may just be THE year for less stress in starting your weekend on the Cape, Vineyard or Nantucket.  For the first time in over two decades, public train service is resuming from Boston to Cape Cod.  The CapeFLYER service starts up again today, just in time for the long-awaited kickoff weekend of the summer.  For a mere $35 for a round-trip ticket from South Station to Hyannis (you can then grab a shuttle to the island ferries from there), you will be able to avoid traffic on the often dreaded two-lane highways to your weekend destination.

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The weekend-only train is just about two hours long and helps to diminish our carbon footprint.  This is especially true since you can buy your ticket on the MBTA app, something you should do well in advance.  Aside from enjoying your weekends faster, you can bring your bicycle, have a few beers on the way down/up and even use Wi-Fi!  What is not to like for us city dwellers?! 

What do you think, did the MBTA do the right thing in rolling this out?  What will be your destination via the CapeFLYER?  Be sure to check out their schedule and other information here.


- Meredith

Gal Gab! Is It Time to Change the Way We Ride?

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Like in any city, thousands of Bostonians rely on public transportation on a daily basis.  It is our work commute, a way to visit friends and to responsibly get to an event without getting behind the wheel.  This morning, I came across this article, asking us the common question, "Should the T run later at night?"

Right now, the last train is at 12:35am.  Compared to other cities, this is pretty laughable.  We have done fine in getting around otherwise following our watering holes closing promptly at 2am, but many questions come to mind with this debate.  Talks of policy change seem to just be the start of a long-term discussion.

Without getting too political, would you want and take advantage of the "after-hours" service between 1am-5am?  Feel free to comment and/or take the survey here.

- Meredith