Everything is vying for our attention. EVERYTHING.

And in time, maybe we’ll train ourselves to become better at managing the hierarchy of distractions (infographic shoutout!) but in today’s world, the expectations are increasingly becoming that we’ll repond to everything, from wherever we are and whatever we are doing.

We bring our smart phones to bed. People use them in the bathroom (ew, but true). We hate turning them off when the plane is about to take off, and rush to turn them back on when we’ve landed.

Often it’s “too much to ask” to have someone turn off their phone when you’re spending time with them. There’s always the e-mail from work you’re expecting, that text message from a friend you’re meeting up with later,  or an update email from a family member who’s going through a rough time. Now add in the mobile apps, status updates, comments, and checking in.

Bottom line: there’s a lot going on out there.

So when it comes down to giving a gift – there’s nothing more thoughtful or romantic than giving the gift of your full attention (that’s right- phone off).

Can you do it?

//Purchase The “Phonekerchief” via Uncommon Goods for $15

BONUS: how it works –

The Phonekerchief fabric is conductive (conducts electricity) because it is partially made up of silver fibers. When the fabric creates an unbroken enclosure (when it is wrapped tightly around a phone without any gaps), it creates a phenomenon that is known in science as a “Faraday Cage”. This means that any external static electrical field, such as a phone signal, will cause the electrical charges within the conducting fabric to redistribute themselves so as to cancel the field’s effects on what is inside. In order for the Phonekerchief to work effectively, the fabric must be wrapped tightly around the phone and create an unbroken enclosure.

When I watched this trailer for the “twitter movie” I almost fell off my chair in my cube.

Hope you have a similar response.

and now for the social network trailer..

See any changes?

We all have a signature style in some way or another.

Maybe you’re like Steve Jobs and the only thing that really varies is the amount of hair you have.  Or maybe you have your own signature geek style.

If not, here are a few ideas/inspiration to capture your own geek style:

1) Laptop/Gadget Etching: Let your artsy and geeky side emerge with custom etching on your isomething. My laptop has angel wings, but if you want your own, check out Make Mag.

2) Custom Laptop Sleeve or Phone Case from Etsy: Submit a design summary with photos of what you’re looking for and watch the ideas (and estimates) flow in. Or buy a cool pre-made option from one of the crafty sellers :)

3) A Cool USB Drive: When it comes to sharing files, where you choose to store your files speaks volumes about you and your geek style. A friend of mine even has a pair of CK sunglasses with a usb drive ($180)

// image via Geek Hideout

Posted via email from lifestream de techyness

Gadgets Matter :)

Some believe that technology is better left at home while one is attending formal events.

But what about gadgets that define elegance?

While at a black tie event in Baltimore over the weekend (and trying to stuff gadgets into my small clutch) I realized that having elegant gadgets are part of the overall “look” at one of these events (have you ever seen someone reach into their bag and reveal an old school camera or cell?)

1) Keep it Clean. We use our gadgets and they can get dirty. We drop them. We run them over with our cars. We spill coffee on them. Keep them clean with disposable electronics wipes and a simple eyeglass cloth.

2) Pocket-Sized Everything. Small gadgets are more elegant. Plus, they fit in your purse. I like the small cameras from Canon (I like the all-black ones) and anything imported from Japan.

3) Covers should be Tame. Take off that leopard print or zebra cover unless it matches your dress (yikes). Instead, stick with the classic, simple look.

4) Ringtones should be silenced. It’s not a good idea to have JT’s “Sexy Back” or Kiesha’s ”Tik Tok” blast from your cell in the middle of dinner or a conversation with your date’s boss. Keep it classy.

5) Focus on the Event. The gadgets are there to keep digital memories (live streaming, digital photos, twitter and foursquare updates) of your event. But what’s really important is that you’re there and enjoying it. Your gadgets should add to the event, not take you away from it.

Techyness tips her hat to the classy ladies of social media

Nice girls are hard to find.

When I was at my (all girls, catholic) high school, I was (already) little miss techyness.

Even my “computer skills” teacher would often pull me out of my other classes to give demonstrations/help out.

Sure, even the teacher called me “computer geek,” but I had a hard time finding and meeting other females working in the tech sector back home in Perrysburg, Ohio.

So, I taught myself web development. I still have flashbacks to my first web site, which I called “Shooting Stars.” Humm. Yes, it was complete with everything, especially tables, a “hit counter” and graphics from flamingtext.

oh (internet.) how far we’ve come.

Things have changed since my time in high school, mainly the rise in interactive social media, and the fact that I ended up going to school with boys again.

Sometimes I think about what I could have learned about the tech industry if the blogs of today were around when I was in high school… and I believe that the vocal female bloggers from today would have been a pivotal group to reach out to for advice on college programs, jobs, and one’s experience as a female in the tech industry.

So, I’d like to give a shout out to a few females out there who serve as examples to all of us that women in tech are… both hot and smart, and aren’t afraid to show their techy side. [thanks to george for some insight on these ladies]

• iJustine: It all started with one crazy iPhone bill from at&t (300 pages).
• Sarah Evans: PR Sarah Evans is, honestly, one badass chick. She started her own PR firm, Sevans and shows that entrepreneurial thinking isn’t just left to the boys.
• Ladies of Mashable: If Pete was my boss, I’d be happy too (kidding ladies). But in all serious, these girls give us our daily fix on what’s going on in the social media world.

For additional links on blogs of the female kind, check out blog her.

Gone are the days where it was uncool to be a girl in tech. Live it up ladies!

+ to the readers out there… please comment with links to your favorite female bloggers :)

I do love you, blogs & tea.

Finding something for your mom (ok, well, any woman) can be a struggle. We’ve all been there.

I have a reputation @ the wig company as a “gift consultant” for colleagues with girlfriends (let’s just say that

I live vicariously through these gifts)… so I want to help pass along some of my ideas for Mother’s day to all of you who read the Techyness.

As mentioned in previous posts, I’ve been on a real Etsy kick lately… so here are a few ideas for all you Moms out there (because what’s better that something handmade, local, and helps out real people!?!).

On the techy side, what about a great USB flash drive? Even the non-techy moms will be a fan of the LaCie Key-Shaped USB drives. Simple, flawless design.

BUT. Never give a woman JUST a gadget or a technological device. Add a fun twist- if you’re buying your mom a digital camera, preload the sd card with some photos to flip through, or a pre-recorded video of you telling her you love her :) This was the same advice I gave to a fellow IMLP- lets just say it worked out well with his girlfriend!

Not sure what to buy Mom!?!

What about technology lessons? I usually help my mom out with blackberry 101 and 101.1 lessons whenever I’m back in Ohio. (Last time I gave a live demo of Kayak, she’s a huge fan now.) Or what about installing Skype on her computer and buying her a cute headset (alongwith some skype credits!?) Your mom would like to SEE you sometime, you know.

Want to show your madre you <3 her?  I’ve included some non-techy ideas…

I’m loving these posters that are silk screened by hand, especially this one. Or what about a photo locket (moms love a mix of classy/corny) – like this fleur-de-lis vintage locket, a mixed media locket, a tree locket for the nature types, and a classic long chained oversize locket.

If you’re looking for a photo to put in the locket, you can order photos via snapfish, or my personal favorite, mpix. These sites also offer fun photo gifts that ship fast- like photo albums, inexpensive photobooks from snapfish, or try vistaprint for endless possibilities (ships fast too!)…

Happy Mother’s Day – and comment with what you’re buying your mom this year :)

While browsing new posts from my favorite preppy fashionista, I realized that it’s about time to tackle the “Web 2.0 chain letter” that seems to be invading collaborative outlets everywhere.

Chain letters have evolved over time… first with cheesy letters, then emails, and now in social media, where one can attach multimedia to answer questions or provide additional information.

Sure, it started with the Facebook – 25 random things about me, that we were all tagged in, and I’ve come across another one- “Show Your Heart.”

The directions state to show your heart…

Show your heart in one picture:

There's just something about these two trees that gets to me.

...one item of clothing:

Anything Jackie O had in her closet(s)

...one Disney Princess

Sleeping Beauty. No contest here. Maybe I'm just waiting to wake up too? (corny, had to say it, c'mon).

...one place (it’s a tie for me)

#1. Villa San Michele, Fiesole, Florence, Tuscany.

#2. Belhurst Castle, Geneva, NY (this one is more feasible)

...one poem:

for the sake of irony, my poem is about poems…

As a tool of cognition, poetry beats any existing form of analysis (a) because it pares down our reality to its linguistic essentials, whose interplay, be it clash or fusion, yields epiphany or revelation, and (b) because it exploits the rhythmic and euphonic properties of the language that in themselves are revelatory.  — Joseph Brodsky

…one quote:

Voici mon secret. Il est très simple: on ne voit bien qu’avec le cœur. L’essentiel est invisible pour les yeux. -Le Petit Prince (Antoine de Saint Exupéry)

And I can’t forget the final piece… to tag a few bloggers to follow up… so I know George will take this one on…