Her Campus Blogger Network

I am pleased to announce that this blog, Bay State and Beyond, has been accepted into the Her Campus Blogger Network!!! I am over the moon about this new venture as I have always wanted to learn how to expand my little blog. After getting the email that I had been offered a spot in the network I did a little happy dance and told all of my friends! And let me tell you this could not have come at a better time. After reading all about the Alt Summit, a blogger conference, and learning that so many of my favorite bloggers attended, I was feeling a bit out of the loop in the blog world, and now I am overjoyed! This is the perfect opportunity for me and Bay State and Beyond! 

I have been a writer and editor for Her Campus' Boston University chapter for the past two years now and the blogger network is another exciting way to be involved in all that Her Campus has going on. Thank you for all the continued support and let the journey begin! 

Vine: Video Sharing App

I had another blog post in mind for today, but last night as I was on Instagram pictures of Vine app profiles were being posted by the second in my feed. Bloggers and Instagram fans everywhere are turning to a new iPhone app called Vine, a video sharing app. Basically the Vine app is the Instagram for video clips. The app is geared toward sharing short looping videos. Like other social networks you can find friends and see what videos they are posting, leave comments and read comments left on your own videos. Users can even explore editor's picks and popular videos, along with trending tags.
While iPhone users are just catching on to the latest app trend, it hasn't taken too long for some users to begin to use the app to share porn. While I'm not shocked by this latest news update involving Vine, only time will tell if the app will be banned by Apple, the app's co-parent along with Twitter.
What do you think of the app? Should it stay, or should it go?

It's Friday, Take a Risk

Music Monday: Walk off the Earth

This past week I came across the Canadian indie band Walk off the Earth. Formed in 2006 in Burlington, Ontario the five member group is a musical phenomena performing original pieces and cover interpretations. 

The band is best known for its 5-people-playing-one-guitar interpretation of Gotye's "Somebody That I Used To Know," but my personal favorite cover of theirs is Taylor Swift's "I Knew You Were Trouble." 

The harmonies within the group are amazing and the percussion work brings the songs to a new level. Walk off the Earth is currently touring in Europe with no plans currently in place to tour in the States, but hopefully they will reconsider at the end of their European tour with their new found popularity. Check them out on their website and on their YouTube channel, I can assure you they will not disappoint! Enjoy!  

Herschel Supply: Spring 2013 LookBook

I've been following Herschel Supply Co. for a while now. Ever since my friend introduced founders Jamie and Lyndon Cormack and their company to me I have been in love with the brand and products that Herschel Supply manufactures. Based in Vancouver, Canada, Herschel Supply Co. manufactures quality bags, backpacks, and accessories. The Cormack brothers named the company after the small town in Canada where three generations of their family grew up.

In just three years the Cormack brothers and Herschel Supply Co. have built up quite the reputation bringing a tailored approach to design. The bags and products are both timeless and functional and with the latest release of Herschel Supply's Spring 2013 LookBook I have become even more excited about their collection. Take a look here for the LookBook and start writing your wish list, I know I am!

Jerry Seinfeld: How to Write A Joke

Comedy and laughter are two things that can bring just about anyone together. I've always admired how seemingly effortless it looks when comedians are performing stand-up on stage. One of my favorite comedians has always been Jerry Seinfeld, and after reading the New York Times Magazine article, Jerry Seinfeld Intends to Die Standing Up, I began to think more about a comedian's process to writing jokes.
In the video interview Jerry Seinfeld describes the over two-year process that has gone into writing a joke about Pop Tarts. One simple deletion of a word, or the addition of another word can completely turn around one of Seinfeld's jokes, and knowing the time and attention he pays to perfect each line is incredible and makes me appreciate his jokes all the more.
And to top it all off, I love that Seinfeld writes all of his jokes on a legal pad and with a Bic pen, so simple yet so perfect.

Check out the article and video about Seinfeld writing his Pop Tart joke here.
Also check out Seinfeld's online series Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee.