Will I ever have a booty like Beyonce?

When I think back to the first images of women in the media that impacted my own body image, I'm brought back to a time of Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera. More specifically, fourth or fifth grade. That's a really young age to be thinking your thighs are too thick, your stomach is too chunky, and to be comparing yourself to your friends. When you're ten years old and believe that only a perfectly flat stomach and toned thighs are the key to happiness, you have a problem. This type of thinking only grows during teenage years and beyond. I believe that the way mass media and popular culture display both women and men makes it very difficult to be comfortable in your own skin and accept your body.

I believe for women in particular, society goes through phases of what type of beauty is widely accepted. The sought after body type has varied through time; women wanting to look like Marilyn Monroe (said to be a size 8-10), or aspiring to be a stick. Nowadays it seems that the ideal body that women wish for, is that perfectly thin one; somehow equipped with big boobs, an ass, and curves. And no fat or cellulite, of course. Also known as, the Victoria Secret model. Although blessed, I think it's safe to say these women are an anomaly; they are not the norm.

In magazines and on TV, there are plenty of men and women who we see with seemingly flawless bodies. We have programs like Photoshop to thank for having us believe they come natural. Take a look at Kim K, for example. On the left, pretty much everything is a little bigger and it's clear she has some cellulite, along with a darker skin tone. After some retouching however, we see perfect curves, dimple free legs, and a lighter skin complexion (a whole other issue). Obviously, magazines don't show us the before; just the close-to-perfect after. So we're made to believe this is the real deal; that we should be able to obtain this kind of body, too.

If you've never seen it before, I encourage you to check out this Evolution of Beauty video. In just a few minutes, it goes through the process of retouching and how drastic changes can be made.

Most upsetting about this video, and the image of KK, is simply that both of these women are beautiful to begin with. Neither of them, nor society, needs to see the "perfected" version. The real thing works just fine.

On top of all that, when magazines aren't capturing (and retouching) the wonders of some famous men and women out there, they're constantly scrutinizing those who fall a few steps off the path. Jessica Simpson, for example, has put on too much baby weight. Women like Julia Roberts and Mischa Barton need to work on that cellulite. And Jennifer Love Hewitt better not be caught dead in another bikini before she loses some lbs.

It seems this conversation is a hot one right now and that more companies are joining in the effort to stress a wider and deeper definition of beauty. Dove has their Campaign for Real Beauty, and Bare Minerals has a campaign for women to be a "Force of Beauty." It's definitely a start! I think what is really important is reaching girls (and boys!) at a younger age. It probably shouldn't have taken 23 years to come to terms with the fact that I just may never acquire a body that society deems "perfect;" and that in reality, happy should equate to healthy. It is so important that we get to that point where we're comfortable in our own skin; where we can say, eff perfection. So instead of longing for Jennifer Aniston's legs..or Beyonce's booty...use them as inspiration! Because really, we're blessed with just one body. You might as well love it, keep it healthy, and own it. Work for your best body, not someone else's.

Freerunning - SO cool!

I was introduced to this video a long time ago, but have been finding it a fun, 3-minute way to kick of my day lately. Not only do these people show off some pretty sick moves (is it too late to learn?!), but it's to a cool version of 'Lights,' by Ellie Goulding. Check it out, and have a happy Tuesday!!

A $700 hair dryer...Ex-squeeze me?

I'm always excited when there's an US Weekly, Glamour, Health, or even Cosmo for goodness sake, waiting for me at the gym's magazine stack that I have yet to lay my hands on. Even though every new issue is essentially the same as the last (how many times can we read about how to meet cute guys at coffee shops or how celebs manage to lose those pesky pounds), these magazines are my saving grace. The last 20 minutes on the bike go by so much faster when I can flip a few silly pages.

Today was a sad day; no new mags. Except...for Marie Claire. I tend to shy away from this one, along with Elle, Vogue, Vanity Fair, etc. The print is small and everything they advertise is many moons away from being in my budget. But on certain occasions, like today, when there is nothing else to read, I indulge and add various items to my never-ending mental wish list (ahh...Tory Burch flats and a classic Louis Vuitton...someday?).

And so today I came upon, and present to you, a little food for thought. As I was flipping, I saw an article on hair dryers. There were three recommendations; one for $20 (a.k.a. my kinda hair dryer), one for $99 (a stretch but not entirely unthinkable), and one for $700 (WHAT?!?!). I swear, I stared at this number for many minutes; unable to comprehend what kind of fool is going to drop $700 on something that can be accomplished by air. Unless what's blowing out of this thing has been previously breathed by Jake Gyllenhaal, I think I'll pass. Ok that was a gross and absurd connection, but seriously.

The amount of money some people spend on things floors me. I remember watching an episode of "Cribs" with Kimora Lee Simmons (that took a lot for me to admit), in which she highlighted a gold toilet that she spent $10,000 on. Say what? You shit in this and there are people in the world that cannot afford food for themselves or their starving children. Now, if Kimora had bought a regular toilet and donated the difference, would the world's hunger issues be solved? No. I'm not insinuating this. But sometimes I just don't get how you can sleep at night after spending $10,000 on a toilet...or $30,000 a night at a hotel...or $100,000 on a car...etc. Is it really necessary that there are salaries out there that account for this type of spending? While I maintain the thought that these [extreme] examples are absolutely idiotic and gag-worthy, I do understand that people make money and should be able to spend it however they please.

We all have our limits on what is average, or what is an "ok" amount to spend on certain things; how much we're willing to pay for a pair of jeans, a bottle of shampoo, a purse, a car, a pair of running shoes, etc. I am certain there are things I buy that would cause some to drop their jaw a little. A lot of factors go into how we all spend money; our income level (obviously), what types of brands we're drawn to, what we grew up with our parents buying, and on and on. It's understandable that people have such varying spending habits. So who am I to judge Kimora for wanting to do her daily business in gold? Where do we draw the line? Is there a line?

I find myself thinking about money and how it's spent, and have never really come to a hard and fast conclusion. It's seems silly, and rude, that I can harshly judge people for spending so lavishly, while others could just as easily turn the tables on me. But really...$700 for a hair dryer? Seems crazy, right?

P.S. Sorry for talking about toilets so much.

Thank you, Zooey, etc., Will, Christina, and Maya.

I can't say my weekly routine would be the same without these actors gracing my television screen. As pathetic as it may be, two things on the top of my "what to look forward to" list of the week, include the new television shows, 'New Girl,' and 'Up All Night.' Although it helps to watch all the episodes in order, it's not completely necessary (but you will grow to love the characters more if you watch religiously...duh).

Zooey Deschanel, Max Greenfield, Jake Johnson, and Lamorne Morris are basically my best friends on Wednesday nights. Zooey plays Jess, new roommate to three cute and funny men. Nick is the laid-back bartender, Schmidt is the anal perfectionist, and Winston is the cool ex-NBA playa. The dynamic between them is quite hilarious. I know some people may find Zooey to be a little too quirky at times, which is why I can't 100 percent guarantee you're going to love this show. But personally, I think the occasional, over-the-top quirk factor, is easily overlooked thanks to the remaining brilliance of the show. And I absolutely love Zooey (idol of the year, so far). Watch this short clip. If you're intrigued, I encourage you to block out 30 minutes of your next Wednesday.

Will Arnett, Christiana Applegate and Maya Rudolph are my Thursday night besties in 'Up All Night.' It's on at 8:30 though, so many times my electronics are powered down by then and it's something to save for the weekend. Basically, Will and Christina are new parents, Chris and Reagan, and Maya plays Ava, one of their self-absorbed best friends. Essentially, a comedic dream team if you will. Chris and Reagan go through all the stereotypical "firsts" of parenthood, while Ava does her best to support them. It really didn't take me long to get hooked, as these three actors were already a few of my faves. I can bet you'll want to marry Will after a couple episodes and become BFFs with Reagan and Ava. Love.



Can't help but show you another clip of just Chris and Reagan. Very, very funny. 


I dare you to tell me you didn't giggle.

I'll be needing a bunny.

The thought of having a bunny came up recently through a mixture of pinning and Facebooking. They are just so cute! Look!

I actually used to have a little white bunny named Snowball (clever, I know). But the poor thing only lived for four days after I got it. So I'm hoping if I get a lil' bun one of these days, that it doesn't face a similar fate. 

My friend told me that they make them bigger now and that they can like, hang out and watch movies with you and go on walks. So close to a cat/dog! What? I don't know how accurate this is but let's be honest, it sounds pretty awesome. I'm at a time in my life when I can't reallly have a dog...but I'm kind of thinking a bunny would be the next best thing.

I can't help but make kissy noises when I look at him. Operation Get a Bunny is in now in full force.

Yes to Natural!

I just know you've been on the edge of your seats waiting to hear what natural/organic products I decided to try first and their reviews. Well wait no longer, my friends. I have news about two new products that I've been trying for a couple weeks.

For the past couple months, adult acne has been my Everest. And I wouldn't wish that upon my worst enemy. Anyway, whenever I can find a product that doesn't result in my face resembling a pepperoni pizza, I've considered my purchase a success. And luckily, both of these products fall under that category.

On the left we have 'Yes to Tomatoes: Repairing Acne Lotion.' I got this at Target and they have a bunch of 'Yes to...' products (I'm really excited to try their body lotion - it smells amazing). It's paraben-free and claimed to be 98% natural, which is pretty good for the price. This lotion has a consistency that I wouldn't really put in the lotion category; it's more of a serum. I use it at night after I cleanse and tone and I really like it. It contains salicylic acid, which is supposed to help with acne. Woo. Definitely recommend trying it if you're looking for a nighttime moisturizer.

On the right is 'Korres Yogurt Cream.' I love this. I got this one at Sephora and although it's a tad pricey, I'm very satisfied and definitely will replenish it when I run out. No parabens, no sulfates, no synthetic dyes, no GMOs...wonderful. It contains Greek yogurt (and lots of other natural yum yums), which is said to provide instant hydration. I wear this in the morning after I cleanse and tone and it's been a great base for my makeup. It's super smooth, rich, and smells great. I was skeptical about it for that reason and thought it would might make me break out or cause my skin to be oily. Thus far, that has not been an issue. Knock on wood.

Stay tuned for more reviews as my chemical-filled drawers diminish!

Best of the 90s.

For some reason, I've lately been thinking about that wonderful decade of the 90s. The primetime of my youth years, I'd venture to say. I was not yet an awkward middle schooler with bad hair and a skewed sense of "fashion," nor was I mixed up in the intricacies of teenage politics and gossip; but instead, a carefree pre-double digit youngster, loving all the offerings of the 90s. And...I miss that.

There are many things that seemed to be solely "90s," that I look back on with such nostalgia. Let's take a gander down memory lane.

• Beanie babies. My obsession with beanie babies was as big as, if not bigger than, my modern day obsession with the color pink. I remember my Mom taking me around to different stores that sold Beanies (JT Puffins, anyone?) to see if they had any new ones I had yet to collect. I dare say she enjoyed it almost as much as I did, wink. I also collected every.single. 'Teeny Beany" from the Golden Arches. More accurately, two of each. One to open and play with, and one to keep safe in the plastic wrap. Psychotic? Perhaps. When I think about it now, these miniature stuffed animals were pretty dumb...I kept them (tags on, of course) under my bed in huge drawers and they were barely cuddleable, as they were the size of my adult hand. An incredibly fond memory, nonetheless. 

• Tamagotchis. Looking back now the idea seems so ridiculous. But this handheld technology was absolutely genius. Feed it, play games with it, clean up it's dumps. How did this not get old? My parents actually gave these to my soccer team in place of a trophy, which was amazing. 
• Saved by the Bell. I longed to be Kelly Kapowski, punch Jessie Spano, be best friends with Lisa Turtle, date Zach Morris & AC Slater, and do some nerdy things with Screech Powers. Remember when Jessie went bat shit cray and took all those caffeine pills and Zach stopped her?! You will now. 

 

• Chat rooms (A/S/L?), IMing, away messages, SHOUT OUTS.
• The Spice Girls. Tell me whatcha want, whatcha really really want. Baby and Ginger were my idols. I dreamed of one day being just like them. I had SG Barbies, SG pencils, SG lollipops, Spice World: The Movie, and they were my first concert. Needless to say, I thought I was the shit when my Mom took to Ragstock to outfit myself for what I will remember as one of the best nights of my life. Don't you just wish platforms and around-the-arm barbed wire tattoos would come back into style? 

• Honorable mention: 
• Are You Afraid of the Dark? 
• Da Bulls (two 3-peat NBA Championships! Cray.)
• Surge
• Fresh Prince/Family Matters
• Starter jackets
• Goosebumps 
• Babysitter's Club

I did my best to recall some great 90s moments and memories. I think it's safe to say it will always be a fun decade to look back on.