Sparkling Snippets

     A few weeks ago I shared a little bit about how I'm choreographing for the Mansfield Youth Theatre production of Mary Poppins , but a fun fact is that I also work on the costume crew. I grew up sewing for 4-H projects and originally planned on going to college to double major in fashion design and fashion merchandising. I've found a passion in getting to work on the costumes for the youth shows and using my creativity.      I handled two large costume projects for Mary Poppins . Back in December, before the show was even cast, I created the white hats for "Jolly Holiday." They were white straw hats adorned with pink ribbon and red roses. I spent time cutting ribbon and gluing it to the hats. Then I disassembled the roses and arranged them on the hats. To fill the blank space, I added small curled pieces of pink ribbon. These hats ended up being adorable and were a joy to craft.      My most recent project was making colorful bustles for ...

     TikTok is the fifth most popular social media platform and continues to grow in its number of users. There’s something intriguing about scrolling through various videos and seeing something new with each swipe. From dances to book reviews, there’s a video for everyone. As users flock to the platform, it's just as important to understand the algorithm—not just for its potential to make content go viral, but for the privacy concerns it quietly raises.      The algorithm is crafted to show videos tailored to your interests. Using data from previous videos you’ve engaged with—liked, commented on or shared—the app sends similar content to your For You page. This is why you’ll often see related videos as you scroll. If you search for something on TikTok, you’re more likely to see content related to that subject because you’ve shown interest. Beyond the subject matter of a video, using the same sounds, captions or hashtags can also help send a video to your F...

     When it comes to social media platforms, few have the global reach and influence of YouTube. Launched in 2005 and acquired by Google in 2006, YouTube has grown into the world’s second-most visited website, surpassed only by Google itself. With more than 2.5 billion monthly active users, the platform has become a cornerstone of digital marketing, entertainment and education. YouTube’s user base is both massive and highly engaged. Every day, people around the world watch more than 1 billion hours of video on the platform. That’s more viewing time than Netflix and Facebook video combined. As of 2024, YouTube boasts more than 122 million daily active users and over 500 hours of video uploaded every minute.      YouTube's demographic reach is also impressive. The platform is most popular with users aged 18 to 34, a highly sought-after age group for advertisers. However, its appeal spans across generations — from Gen Z to Baby Boomers. According to Pew Rese...

    This weekend we officially wrapped “Hello, Dolly!” and I couldn’t be more grateful for the experience. I never imagined I would make my Ohio Northern musical debut in my freshman year, but I’m so thankful for the opportunity. While I’ve had my own tumultuous history with “Hello, Dolly!” as I mentioned in my last post, this show was nothing but a joy. Here are some highlights from tech week, the performances and strike. Corsets and Hair Galore      If you’ve watched Dance Moms, you might know about the famous rat and snood from one of their dances. Fun fact: for those of us who didn’t wear wigs, we had to use rats to shape our hair into period-accurate styles. I’ll admit, without the hats and dresses the hairstyle looked a bit like Preminger from Barbie as the Princess and the Pauper (as seen in the recent TikTok trends), but once you’re in full costume, it fits. Another thing you might not know from the audience is that underneath the layers of cost...

     Last Friday, I attended the 7th Annual Social Media Workshop at Ohio Northern University. The event offered a variety of sessions led by social media experts, covering topics from LinkedIn strategies to personal branding. Having the freedom to choose which sessions to attend allowed me to tailor the day to my interests.      The session I found most impactful was the final one of the day, titled “Mastering the Social Media Maze: Adapting to Algorithms, Trends and Clientele.” Amanda Langley, the presenter, broke down how algorithms promote content and emphasized the importance of understanding each platform’s unique characteristics. One key point was how traction varies depending on the platform. Langley made the concepts easy to grasp and relatable to a diverse audience.      A moment that stood out was her comparison of Instagram to an “aesthetic museum” and TikTok to an “eclectic street fair.” This visual helped me understand how each...

     I was cast in Ohio Northern University’s production of Hello, Dolly! back in December. While we've been busy rehearsing and fine-tuning each piece, I’ve enjoyed reflecting on the last time I did this show and noticing how different the experiences have been.      In October 2023, I was cast as Ermengarde’s understudy and as a member of the ensemble for the Renaissance Theatre production of Hello, Dolly! While I had no idea what the show entailed at the time, I was excited for the chance to learn more about it. Little did I know we would be welcoming Jennifer Simard—currently starring in Death Becomes Her on Broadway—as our Dolly and Jeff Richmond—the composer of Mean Girls: The Musical and husband of Tina Fey—as our Horace. Because they were guest stars, we didn’t see our two leads until the week before tech. It was truly incredible to witness seasoned professionals at work and to get to know them.      During that show, I ran into a...

    While many see  LinkedIn as a personal social media platform it offers a variety of features designed to help both businesses and professionals build their brand, connect with their audience and generate leads. Here's some key features that LinkedIn offers and how they help promote businesses and professionals.       At the core of LinkedIn’s offerings is the Company Page , which acts as a digital storefront for organizations. Businesses can optimize their pages by providing detailed company information, high-quality visuals and a compelling description of their products and services. This helps establish credibility and make a strong first impression on potential followers and customers.      Another powerful feature is LinkedIn Content Publishing , which enables users to share industry insights, company updates and thought leadership articles. Posts can include text, images, videos and even documents to engage different audiences....