As I was home for Thanksgiving break, I took the opportunity to complete this final short assignment. Shopping on Black Friday has been a tradition that my mom, sister, and I have upheld. We stayed consistent visiting Woodbury Commons for a few years. Last year, I decided to work on Black Friday but then realized I was not getting paid time and a half. This year, I continued the tradition with my family in going to Danbury Mall in Connecticut. This mall is twice the size of Woodbury with twice the amount of stores. On my Christmas list is a pair of white Adidas sneakers, specifically the “Forum Low Shoes.”

During the first experiment, I had feelings of excitement and anxiousness. With Christmas being right around the corner, shoes sell out fast. Everyone wants to rock the newest look, myself included. Adidas sneakers have been around for a long time and the number of styles they come in is incredible. The shoe I wanted was presented in the color of “Cloud White” which had lace closure, leather upper, textile lining and a rubber outsole. I started on the Adidas website and then moved to Amazon, DSW, then Footlocker. My goal was to find the same shoe for the lowest price. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to check out each website and compare prices and reviews. This process was done from the comfort of my own bed at home, in pajamas, under a cozy blanket.

During the second experiment, I felt eager to visit the Danbury Mall to explore my shoe options. The only store that was available to me in person that I visited online was Footlocker. This store was extremely overwhelming along with exceeding the maximum amount of people allowed in the store at once. I like my in-person shopping experience to feel calm and relaxed. Spending 45 minutes browsing felt rushed in this environment. You always feel like you are in someone’s way along with my family pressuring me to decide on what to buy. As I am browsing in the Adidas section, an employee came up to me once every five minutes to ask if I needed help. Granted, I never found the same shoe and did need help, but wanted to experience browsing on my own. After the 45 minutes were up, my family was begging me to leave the store so we could continue with the rest of our shopping.

The first experiment was much more enjoyable and successful than the second. I was able to take my time scrolling through websites than I was standing in the middle of chaos. I did not have the stressor of my family waiting for me along with feeling I had to make a purchase when I entered the store. There is an unsatisfying feeling when you walk out of a store without buying anything. I wasted time when I could have been searching elsewhere. My family did not want to leave me in a store by myself due to the commotion of Black Friday. I did not have the luxury of comparing prices or reviews. I like to investigate the logistics to know if the shoe is worth buying. I understand I am physically present in the store to try on the shoe and there is a risk of getting the wrong size online. I have bought so many shoes online that I am willing to take that risk. I felt peaceful when no one was bothering me during my shopping.

If I were in an environment that was more tame than Black Friday, I would agree with Guriel that we should do more browsing. However, in this experience, I preferred scrolling. I did not meander from my goal and scroll on meaningless websites for hours. I made a priority to stick to one pair of shoes without being sucked into other websites or ads. I enjoyed playing out both experiments along with solidifying my love for shopping.

About a three months ago, I walked into my room after coming home from work to see a journal sitting on my bed. I was leaving to come back to New Paltz in a week from what was a disastrous summer. Between work, family, and a devastating break up, I was struggling mentally. I had a challenging time opening up to anyone about the feelings I was experiencing. I was isolated in my own head and could not escape. As I sat down on my bed, I picked up the journal. This journal was vibrant in having a white background with seven stripes of colors alternating between yellow, pink, blue, and orange. The journal has a yellow strap to secure the book when closed, along with gold rings to hold the pages. The title of the journal in gold letters read “thoughts and notes.” I was skeptical of the process at first because I had never journaled nor put my thoughts and feelings into any personal writing for myself. I was scared to reread my emotions along with finding the courage to not judge myself. I wrote one entry the week before returning to school and have not touched the journal until this week. I am hoping to discover if I will allow myself to lean into the process and let my thoughts go. I have a tough time committing to experiences that I know will benefit me. It is the feeling I do not deserve that satisfaction with the choices I have made.

Finding the courage to pick up the journal after putting it down for so long was intimidating. Not taking the initiative to work on myself when I was provided with a direct source was disappointing. I knew this assignment was the perfect opportunity to dive into working on my mental health. Each night this week before bed, I sat at my desk and took fifteen to twenty minutes of silent writing. My writing was not limited to a specific topic, I let my brain release what kept my mind running. Nevertheless, I saw a pattern in my writing. I would start with how my day went and all the positive aspects I encountered. Then, if there was anything bothering me, I would elaborate in a detailed description of how it was making me feel. I would also describe its influence on other events in my life. As I described to my roommates, they noticed a new task was added into my night routine, I was releasing my bottled emotions. I have two close friends that I share every detail my life with, but instead of relying on hearing someone else’s response, I reread my entries. Funny enough, I reread my first entry that I wrote over the summer. It was a shock to see how far I have come through the hardship. I feel like a different person from three months ago and was able to reflect on only doing one entry during the time I needed it most. During that time was when I needed discipline and structure to keep writing to manage my emotions. The observed benefit I have received from this experiment is my ability to communicate with others. If you are not able to regulate your own emotions, you can not communicate properly. I pride myself on building relationships with others due to healthy communication. That idea begins with an activity such as journaling to instill this practice on social relations.

This experience surprised me that I could go through with the task of journaling before bed every night. I was able to investigate how different each day was during the week and how it made me feel. Our lives can be so chaotic that we forget to focus on ourselves and well being. Slowing down and taking the time to focus on how I felt about my day or a certain event, validated my feelings. This addition to my night routine was something I looked forward to. Within the craziness of life and school, centering my mind was crucial. I did not have to think about journaling, I just did it. The process is now ingrained into my routine. Instead of finding a distraction such as putting on a tv show or movie, taking a drive, or listening to music on my phone, I was able to be in touch with myself. I have shied away from the difficult aspects of my life and shoved emotions down till they disappeared. This experience made me want to explore other analogue experiments to contrast the influence it has on my life. Journaling is a personal and individualized experience, and I am curious to branch out to analogous that require more than one person. This experience gave me the confidence to be upfront with my emotions and to find a safe outlet to share my thoughts. In a short week, journaling has helped manage my anxiety, gain distance from my experiences, prepare for a restful night’s sleep, and boost my motivation.

As our fall season has come upon us, it was time for another shopping trip for clothing. Just last week I visited the Poughkeepsie Galleria to gain new cozy and comfortable outerwear in anticipation for the cold weather. One of my favorite stores to visit is American Eagle. Luckily for me as I walked by the store, my eye caught their new fall collection. As I entered the store, I had the idea of wanting new sweaters. Not that I don’t already have twenty in my closet, but as a consumer I want to own what the latest fashion is. I would say I was quite satisfied with the assortment considering I walked out with four new items of clothing, one being this sweater. As I felt through the material of each item as I walked by, this sweaters texture felt as if it would keep me warm on a snowy day. Even though I would have to wait to wear this sweater until December, given that it is 70 degrees in October, I felt joy in purchasing it. I find comfort in what I wear and how it represents my personality to others. As I have grown older, being able to express myself in clothing makes me feel good about myself.

This sweater, soft at the touch, was made with 74% polyester and 26% nylon. It is a cream soft sweater knit with ribbed cuffs, neckline, and hem. The 3D bow detail, my favorite of the sweater, was sewn onto the fabric. From the neckline to the base, it measures 18 ½ inches long and 16 ½ inches wide and each sleeve measures 31 inches long and 5 ½ inches wide. As I was looking on the American Eagle website to gather more product information, the product details said that the item has a “Real Good” badge. On the website it says, “Products with the Real Good badge are the most sustainable items in our collection.” American Eagles goal is to make their clothing with an inclusive dedication to decrease the environmental impact of their products. It also expresses on the website that “this includes incorporating more sustainable raw materials, lowering our carbon footprint, and reducing our water use.” Because this sweater is made from recycled polyester and nylon, it makes use of waste, promoting recycling processes that help prevent polyester and nylon from ending up in landfills. Opting for recycled polyester and nylon over virgin reduces our reliance on chemicals derived from fossil fuels. The sweater was also made from natural dyes that are a “plant-based colorant alternative that reduce our dependence on synthetic chemicals.”

American Eagle clothing is not made in the USA. From the tag on the inside of the sweater, it says it was made in China. Under the Materials and Care section of the description it says “imported.” American Eagle partners up with factories in countries worldwide such as China, Vietnam, Mexico, Thailand, and Indonesia. This means their clothing travels a long way from where it was manufactured. The labor is substantial within creating clothes for a company this size. It makes us consumers appreciate the sustainability that goes into producing the items. American Eagle is always producing new seasonal collections to catch the eye of consumers such as myself. Their goal is to make clothing that is trendy yet casual and comfortable. As shown on their website, they are promoting a clean, ultra-flattering look that is appealing to buyers. They will continually entice consumers with sale prices online that you would not get in stores. Even though I bought the sweater in person at full price which was $49.95, it is now on sale for $15 less online. This intrigues me to check the website next time to view all of their sale items. It is all a ploy to buy more of their apparel the next time I choose to shop.

Works Cited

“AE Cropped Crew Neck Bow Sweater.” American Eagle Outfitters, 2015, http://www.ae.com/us/en/p/women/sweaters-cardigans/sweaters/ae-cropped-crew-neck-bow-sweater/0348_1373_106?menu=cat4840004. Accessed 2 Oct. 2024.

‌ “Where Is American Eagle Clothing Made? – AllAmerican.org.” Allamerican.org, 25 July 2023, allamerican.org/investigation/american-eagle/. Accessed 2 Oct. 2024.

‌ Sustainability – AEO Inc. www.aeo-inc.com/sustainability/. Accessed 2 Oct. 2024.

The object I chose went beyond something you can see closely, touch, or hold in your hand. When I was asking family, specifically my mom about an object that has familial and personal history, she gave me the perfect idea. My object is my great grandmother Ruth Geiss’s house, that her and her second husband Arther Brown lived in over seventy years ago located in Hurley, NY. I was raised in Hurley, NY, so this house felt like the perfect place to learn about my past ancestors and how my family that was once separated, found each other again.

Finding pictures of the house during the time my great grandmother lived there was impossible, but my mom went to visit the house last year and the work they did to it is beautiful. Standing in front of the house on the right is my mom, Robyn Finch, in the middle is her cousin, Martie Brown-Lott, and on the left is her other cousin, Lori Creamer. The house known now as the Brown-Creamer Hurley Homestead has plenty of land surrounding it such as freshly cut grass and mulch with eight plants, four to each side of the door, with one big pink and white flower arrangement on the right, covering most of the front glass window. There are cobblestone steps from the driveway on the left side of the house leading up to the dark brown wood door. A glass window in the middle divided equally into four square sections with a minimalistic green wreath hanging center. Two grey pots that are holding more greenery on each side of door. A black lantern hanging on the upper left corner with an oval shaped bulb waiting to turn on as dusk approaches. The cream-colored home that was painted over red brick with a grey brick roof and red brick chimney is perceived to have rough texture. The black shutters equally bordering each window to make the house symmetrical on both sides. Also noticing the black lamppost on the right side of the stairs melded into the mulch to stay upright that is taller than all the women. It has a vertical infinity symbol above the middle tier. The bulb is enclosed by four glass windows and topped with a bell-like figure.

Now I want to immerse you in how this house became so prominent in my family’s history. Before the house was discovered by Ruth Geiss (pictured on the left) and her second husband Arthur Brown, Ruth originally married Douglas Creamer Sr and had three children (pictured below). One of the children being my grandmother (far right), Lorraine Creamer and her siblings Douglas Creamer Jr (far left) and Constance Creamer (middle). Unfortunately, a scandalous affair happening between Ruth and Arthur broke up the family which made Douglas Sr leave and never return. Ruth and Arthur raised her three children and had one child of their own named Lawrence Brown Jr. From there, Ruth and Arthur got married and move into the Brown-Creamer Hurley Homestead from Kingston, NY. As Ruth Geiss was suffering from uterine cancer, she died in 1953, being only 37 years old, leaving my grandmother Lorraine at only 18 years old. Lorraine took on the roll of raising her three siblings along with her stepfather Arthur in the Hurley Homestead.

The first reunion of the Brown/Creamer family in the Hurley Homestead happened in 1976. The reunion included Arthur Brown Sr who then remarried after Ruth passed to Dolly Brown. Lorraine Creamer (Finch) who married Robert Finch in 1975, their two children Robyn Finch, my mother, who Robert adopted from Lorraine’s first marriage and Joshua Finch who was Lorraine and Robert’s son. Douglas Creamer and his wife with their two twin daughters, Sherri and Lori Creamer. Constance Creamer with her husband and children. Finally, Lawrence Brown and his wife Georgette, with their two daughters Monique and Martie. Lorraine, my grandmother was closest with her youngest brother Lawrence who lived in Grants Pass, Oregon for the remainder of his adult life. Lorraine occasionally saw her brother Douglas who lived in Kansas City, Missouri, and he would often visit NY. There is an unknown reason Lorraine was least in touch with her sister Constance.

Fast forwarding to September 2018, Monique Brown, Lawrence Brown’s daughter, committed suicide. This devastating tragedy rekindled the relationship of my mother, Robyn Finch and her cousins, Martie Brown-Lott and her husband Jeremey Lott, Sherri Creamer and her husband, and Lori Creamer and her husband Jeff. Each year after, the family made it a point to visit one another to stay in touch. After Martie and Jeremy Brown-Lott adopted their son Larry in February of 2020, my mom, stepdad, sister, and I went to visit them in Pasadena, California when he was only 2 years old. After the brunt of COVID-19, in July 2022, my mom, stepdad and I went to visit Lori Creamer in Kansas City, Missouri. In September 2023, all the cousins visited Kingston, NY. Kingston, NY is where I currently live with my mom and stepdad. This past summer, June 2024, all the cousins visited Grants Pass, Oregon where Martie grew up. Each year it is the tradition of the Cousin’s Reunion. Going back to September of 2023, where the reunion was held in Kingston, NY, a return to the original family homestead was requested along with a visit to the Hurley Cemetery. My great grandfather was buried in between his two wives. In researching the Hurley Homestead, my stepdad, who has a GIS program called parcel viewer, for his commercial real estate business, found that my mother’s cousin’s daughter (on her stepfathers’ side) had bought the Brown-Creamer Hurley Homestead in 2021. Messaging was exchanged and a tour was planned for the cousin’s reunion on September 7th, 2023, to see the Hurley Homestead, 71 years after my great grandmother and great grandfather lived there.

I didn’t realize that my dad’s old yearbook collection would come to great use of mine when starting this class. Digging up my mom’s old yearbook from her graduating year of 1987 was mesmerizing to me. I never bought any of my yearbooks from high school, which I painfully regret now looking back at this fond memory. I was able to sit down with my mom and reminisce in what it was like for her in high school. Knowing that my family history started in Kingston and most of us still live there today is extremely intriguing. Having everyone gone to Kingston High School, it’s crazy to look back at what’s changed and seeing what’s been there for generations. My high school memories are years I am very fond of but being able to relive them through my mom was truly special to me.

When taking a closer look at the book itself, it’s about 12 inches in length to 9 1/2 inches in width and 1 inch in depth. It has a cream colored base with a maroon engraving of “Maroon 1987” and a distinguished maroon bordered rectangle on the front cover. As the book is 37 years old it has a worn look to it. It has developed a yellowish tint, specifically inside the maroon rectangle on the front and yellow-brownish spots along the middle and edges of the book. There are a very minor cracks and dents which is impressive for how old the book is. It was safely kept on a bookshelf in my dad’s house for 37 years. I’m impressed by the upkeep of the book, especially the pages in which the book is 320 pages long. They are thick felt pages that have a squeak when grabbing or turning the page. They are very glossy in which they reflect brightly when under strong light.

It’s crucial to remember that the yearbooks in this time were in black and white. In pages 1 through 15 of the yearbook, they give us some vibrant colors that are very expressive to the pictures that were used. Most are candid photos of students involved with the school whether that’s inside or outside the campus. The school portraits are everything that I’d envision an 80’s yearbook to be. Everyone in their senior portraits look like ghosts and had the most insane 80’s hairdo. My mom wasn’t fond of how her hair looked in the 80’s so she’s definitely embarrassed by this photo. My mom’s name is Robyn Finch and had short brown hair with curls that were given to everyone in my family but myself. She was wearing her black v-neck gown with a white strand of pearls around her neck for her senior portrait. Her head tilted slightly to the right as she looks past the camera with her piercing green eyes that were given to me.

One of the very first pages of the book is a picture of the Broadway side entrance of Kingston High School. The image was taken at night so the medium sized black lampposts with four sphere shaped lights in a diamond is shining the light upon the entrance. With a castle like figure, two vertically striped tan columns are withholding the triangular shaped roof with black embroidered letters that spell out “Kingston High School”. The doors that are at the end of two brick staircases is a rectangular shape with a semicircle on top grand entrance. The semicircle is divided into three sections with glass panels in between, just above the matte black doors that have eight square glass panels as well above the golden handles. Layers of brick are aligning the door and underneath both columns next to the black lampposts.

In discovering all the in and outs of my high school, it’s so fascinating to me that every person in my immediate family has history here. Being able to rediscover the activities including the sports teams and the music program is something that I’ll always carry with me. Not that I’m so certain I’ll be living in Kingston for the rest of my life, I know that I’ll always have a place to call home.