We have been having beautiful weather lately! Which has caused quite the predicament for this blog because, well, frankly I would rather back away from the technology and enjoy the sunshine. Thanks to my impeccable timing, I twice-encountered yesterday the perfect situation that had me itching to write a post. So, taking a few moments to hash this one out is really no inconvenience to missing Spring happening outside ...this may or may not have something to do with the fact that I'm bound to my desk anyway. Is it Friday yet?!
Anyways, both as I was walking to work yesterday morning and as I was hurrying back from lunch, I found myself stuck behind the same type of woman: she who wears heels she cannot physically walk in.
Ladies and gentlemen - I know you've ALL seen this type of woman at some point or another. For those that need a refresher, she's usually in stacked platforms waddling like a duck at the pace of a snail. Another version I've noticed from time to time, though I still don't seem to understand, is the woman who manages to wear heels that are too big causing her to loudly clomp down the sidewalk with her toes pointed out.
Either way, I really want to ask: Is it worth it? To my knowledge, I've never heard of a woman who was bludgeoned to death outside her office for refusing to slip her feet out of her flats and into a painful pair of stilettos before walking out the door.
I'm not trying to say there is anything wrong with running around in heels all day - I do it. But seriously, 6-inch leopard print platform, are you slowing up walking traffic on your way to a business meeting or home from the club? Just because the Real Housewives of whatever city can strut the whole 5 feet from their limo seat to to the front door of a restaurant wearing stacked heels, doesn't mean we need to take this fashion faux pas to the mean streets of Washington. While trying to look poised like Heidi Klum, you're moving with the grace of Goofy.
The saying goes "beauty is pain", not "beauty is painful to witness". Select ladies, do yourselves and the sidewalk traffic jam behind you a favor and try a shorter heel...that fits. And to the rest of you women rocking a great pair of heels every day, the sidewalk is your runway -strut on!
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Sunday, February 26, 2012
What Is There To Feel Guilty About?
Wow, what a week! I don't know about the rest of you, but it seems like the last seven days have been ridiculously busy. In addition to being swamped at work, there seemed to be a lot going on outside the office that resulted in some short nights and not a lot of time left for me. Though this is not the first time this has happened - and it certainly won't be the last - I was noticing by the end of this week that I had spent very little time on the personal things I was hoping to accomplish. Case in Point, this blog!
But every dark cloud comes with a silver lining. For if it wasn't such a busy week, I wouldn't have been completely worthless this weekend and had a thought pop into my mind that warranted a little blog chatter.
While I did manage to get some productive things done, like workouts, laundry, cleaning my apartment and online shopping for a new desk, the majority of the weekend was spent in my new favorite pair of ISU sweatpants (thank you Santa!) curled up in front of the television. Basically I can sum up yesterday in four words: Sex and the City. Actually, now that I think about it, I can sum up today with those same four words.
This weekend I completely indulged. I ate chocolate. I ordered pizza. I took a bubble bath, and gave myself a mani/pedi. And in addition to my afternoons with Carrie, Samantha, Miranda and Charlotte, I made a significant dent in my Tivo and watched equally girly shows, including but not limited to: Say Yes to the Dress, How Do I Look?, The Amandas, Dance Moms and Top Chef.
Some girls might consider these activities to be their "guilty pleasures". For the record, I am not one of these girls.According to Merriam-Webster, 'guilty pleasure' is defined as "something pleasurable that induces a usually minor feeling of guilt". So I have to ask, what is their to feel guilty about?
On any given Sunday afternoon, you can find men hunkered down in the front of their 60" television screens with a beer in one hand and the remote in the other. Do you think they feel guilty about it? Well, I'm no man, but I would guess they don't.
So ladies, if men can have their football, basketball, baseball and Nascar, then we can have our Carries, Samanthas, Mirandas and Charlottes with no judgement.
Maybe this is just my justification for spending 48 hours with my couch.
Hope you all had a good weekend!
But every dark cloud comes with a silver lining. For if it wasn't such a busy week, I wouldn't have been completely worthless this weekend and had a thought pop into my mind that warranted a little blog chatter.
While I did manage to get some productive things done, like workouts, laundry, cleaning my apartment and online shopping for a new desk, the majority of the weekend was spent in my new favorite pair of ISU sweatpants (thank you Santa!) curled up in front of the television. Basically I can sum up yesterday in four words: Sex and the City. Actually, now that I think about it, I can sum up today with those same four words.
This weekend I completely indulged. I ate chocolate. I ordered pizza. I took a bubble bath, and gave myself a mani/pedi. And in addition to my afternoons with Carrie, Samantha, Miranda and Charlotte, I made a significant dent in my Tivo and watched equally girly shows, including but not limited to: Say Yes to the Dress, How Do I Look?, The Amandas, Dance Moms and Top Chef.
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| The ladies of Sex and the City - Miranda, Charlotte, Carrie and Samantha |
On any given Sunday afternoon, you can find men hunkered down in the front of their 60" television screens with a beer in one hand and the remote in the other. Do you think they feel guilty about it? Well, I'm no man, but I would guess they don't.
So ladies, if men can have their football, basketball, baseball and Nascar, then we can have our Carries, Samanthas, Mirandas and Charlottes with no judgement.
Maybe this is just my justification for spending 48 hours with my couch.
Hope you all had a good weekend!
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Do You Lack Spatial Awareness or Self Awareness?
As I was leaving Starbucks yesterday morning, my hands full with coffee for myself and a co-worker, I reached the door at the same time as another woman, notably, with one hand completely free. She clearly had no intention to open the door for me, so I pushed the door open with my backside and then proceeded to hold the door open for her so she could come through. Though I was performing a juggling act in the process, it was really no inconvenience to brace the door open. On the flip side, it must have been a huge inconvenience for her to show appreciation for the fact that I did not take a step to the right and let the door take a crack at her. Not even a simple "Thanks." was uttered.
In my experience, Washington D.C. is by far the worst place to witness – or even fall victim to –these “random acts of rudeness”, but it is not the only place it happens. Nearly everywhere you go you see people letting doors swing shut in others' faces or bumping into others without saying “excuse me”. Don’t even get me started on the fact that nobody says “please” or “thank you” anymore. It is no secret that we’ve transitioned into a cutthroat, sink-or-swim society. However, I don’t believe that serves as justification for everyone to be a complete A-hole.
This city, for example, is filled with some of the most brilliant minds in the country, but, in my opinion, it is filled with some of the most clueless people in existence. After careful observation, I’ve noticed two characteristics that seem to be fairly consistent among the population: 1) People generally have no idea what is happening in their immediate surroundings, and 2) People never stop “checking” their smartphones - ironically, this seems to be a direct cause of observation #1.
But I think rudeness is more than a moment of, “Whoops! I didn’t see you.” That is purely an accident. It is your actions following that moment that define your character.
Trace back your steps yesterday. Did you take an extra second to glance back as you walked through a door, ensuring nobody was behind you? Did you turn around and accidentally bump into someone and apologize for doing so? Did you say “thank you” to the person that served you your coffee or lunch?
Make an effort to share kindness with those around you –strangers or acquaintances, friends or foes. You may not always be aware of others around you, but your attitude towards them is impressionable.
Politeness is contagious. Start a chain reaction.
In my experience, Washington D.C. is by far the worst place to witness – or even fall victim to –these “random acts of rudeness”, but it is not the only place it happens. Nearly everywhere you go you see people letting doors swing shut in others' faces or bumping into others without saying “excuse me”. Don’t even get me started on the fact that nobody says “please” or “thank you” anymore. It is no secret that we’ve transitioned into a cutthroat, sink-or-swim society. However, I don’t believe that serves as justification for everyone to be a complete A-hole.
This city, for example, is filled with some of the most brilliant minds in the country, but, in my opinion, it is filled with some of the most clueless people in existence. After careful observation, I’ve noticed two characteristics that seem to be fairly consistent among the population: 1) People generally have no idea what is happening in their immediate surroundings, and 2) People never stop “checking” their smartphones - ironically, this seems to be a direct cause of observation #1.
But I think rudeness is more than a moment of, “Whoops! I didn’t see you.” That is purely an accident. It is your actions following that moment that define your character.
Trace back your steps yesterday. Did you take an extra second to glance back as you walked through a door, ensuring nobody was behind you? Did you turn around and accidentally bump into someone and apologize for doing so? Did you say “thank you” to the person that served you your coffee or lunch?
Make an effort to share kindness with those around you –strangers or acquaintances, friends or foes. You may not always be aware of others around you, but your attitude towards them is impressionable.
Politeness is contagious. Start a chain reaction.
Monday, February 13, 2012
Is Calorie Counting About Moderation or Starvation?
I'm going to throw caution to the wind with this next statement and be completely honest: I have about had it up the wall with talk of the latest diet crazes, calorie counting, "low-fat", "sugar-free", blah, blah, blah. If there was ever a worse time for women to feel poorly about the way they look, it would be now. And I guess I should not be sexist, the pressure to be completely fit and toned plagues the male gender to no end.
This topic-turned-annoyance has been weighing on my mind as I hear the chatter in my office, in line to pick up lunch, on the metro, on television. Basically everywhere. And don't misconstrue what I am saying. I fully believe that people should eat healthy and intake a variety of foods (meats, grains, veggies, fruits - just think about that little triangle-shaped food guide the USDA so kindly provides for us). However, I have to wonder, when did "healthy eating" become less about moderation and more about starvation?
When certified dieticians condone the eating of carbs and meat products, why does society say you should be eating a vegetarian-only diet? Why is there such a big emphasis on 100 calorie packs that taste like cardboard and actually have less nutritional value than say two servings of fruit (more calories, but also more nutrients)?
While I realistically can't give a factual answer, I can provide a hypothetical guess. Q: Why? A: Because society says to be "beautiful" you have to be stick-thin with two percent body fat. Rarely is the question "Do you know how many calories are in that?" followed by the justification "Because you really should get more calories from carbs." It's usually overheard in the same conversation as lines like "I need to look good in my swimsuit", "I would kill for your thighs" or "I want to look like a Victoria's Secret model".
Correct me if I'm wrong, but did Sophia Loren not say, "Everything you see I owe to spaghetti." Let's not lie to ourselves. No stick-thin, airbrushed model will ever be as beautiful as the icons like Elizabeth Taylor, Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, Sophia Loren and Bette Davis.
While obesity is a problem, so is an eating disorder. Instead of pumping Americans full of low-cal frozen food meals that have enough sodium to probably stop the heart of a grown man, why can we not turn the emphasis back to encouraging variety in a diet? And of course, don't neglect daily exercise!
Let me just leave you with a little food for thought -pun intended. Think about what you ate today. Would you have chosen a different option if not for the calories per serving? Did you feel unsatisfied after any of your meals? Did you supress any cravings rather than indulge them?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, give yourself a break tomorrow and treat yourself to your favorite food. You deserve it! And trust me, your thighs will not think any differently.
This topic-turned-annoyance has been weighing on my mind as I hear the chatter in my office, in line to pick up lunch, on the metro, on television. Basically everywhere. And don't misconstrue what I am saying. I fully believe that people should eat healthy and intake a variety of foods (meats, grains, veggies, fruits - just think about that little triangle-shaped food guide the USDA so kindly provides for us). However, I have to wonder, when did "healthy eating" become less about moderation and more about starvation?
When certified dieticians condone the eating of carbs and meat products, why does society say you should be eating a vegetarian-only diet? Why is there such a big emphasis on 100 calorie packs that taste like cardboard and actually have less nutritional value than say two servings of fruit (more calories, but also more nutrients)?
While I realistically can't give a factual answer, I can provide a hypothetical guess. Q: Why? A: Because society says to be "beautiful" you have to be stick-thin with two percent body fat. Rarely is the question "Do you know how many calories are in that?" followed by the justification "Because you really should get more calories from carbs." It's usually overheard in the same conversation as lines like "I need to look good in my swimsuit", "I would kill for your thighs" or "I want to look like a Victoria's Secret model".
Correct me if I'm wrong, but did Sophia Loren not say, "Everything you see I owe to spaghetti." Let's not lie to ourselves. No stick-thin, airbrushed model will ever be as beautiful as the icons like Elizabeth Taylor, Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, Sophia Loren and Bette Davis.
 |
| Sophia Loren |
While obesity is a problem, so is an eating disorder. Instead of pumping Americans full of low-cal frozen food meals that have enough sodium to probably stop the heart of a grown man, why can we not turn the emphasis back to encouraging variety in a diet? And of course, don't neglect daily exercise!
Let me just leave you with a little food for thought -pun intended. Think about what you ate today. Would you have chosen a different option if not for the calories per serving? Did you feel unsatisfied after any of your meals? Did you supress any cravings rather than indulge them?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, give yourself a break tomorrow and treat yourself to your favorite food. You deserve it! And trust me, your thighs will not think any differently.
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Who/What/Where is Junebug?
According to Wikipedia, "junebug" may refer to: "a genus of beetles in the subfamily Melolonthinae of the family Scarabaeidae, also known as June bugs or June Beetles". And thanks to Google, I now know that Junebug was a 2005 comedy-drama in which Amy Adams is the only recognizable name in the cast.
This particular type of "Junebug" is neither of those. In fact, it really isn't a who/what/where at all.
The first time I visited my alma mater after I graduated was homecoming weekend, and ironically, it was also Halloween. Still in the transitioning phase between college student and adulthood - I believe more appropriately defined as "young alumni" - I was determined to ensure I had an enjoyable night with former classmates, forever friends, and ....an ex-boyfriend. The evening was a hit, and fast forwarding to the next morning (sorry to disappoint anyone looking for a juicy hook up story, but this does not involve the ex -well not entirely), I woke up to a hair full of glitter, a camera full of reunion pictures and a story from my former college roommate that I had chose to stand up to my ex by: 1)pushing him out of a picture, and then, 2)choosing to turn my attention towards pizza.
No judgement.
How did I do it? While it is quite impressive the false sense of confidence you gain by putting on a revealing Halloween costume (that year, sexy fairy), it was not the source of my courage that evening. The credit goes to the bottle of cheap wine I bought because I loved the label, and the name: Junebug.
So there you have it -Junebug, in this case, is not the who/what/where you would assume it to be, but the term I've coined for this blog and the courage to say all the things I usually just think.
Are you ready to learn a new language?
This particular type of "Junebug" is neither of those. In fact, it really isn't a who/what/where at all.
The first time I visited my alma mater after I graduated was homecoming weekend, and ironically, it was also Halloween. Still in the transitioning phase between college student and adulthood - I believe more appropriately defined as "young alumni" - I was determined to ensure I had an enjoyable night with former classmates, forever friends, and ....an ex-boyfriend. The evening was a hit, and fast forwarding to the next morning (sorry to disappoint anyone looking for a juicy hook up story, but this does not involve the ex -well not entirely), I woke up to a hair full of glitter, a camera full of reunion pictures and a story from my former college roommate that I had chose to stand up to my ex by: 1)pushing him out of a picture, and then, 2)choosing to turn my attention towards pizza.
No judgement.
How did I do it? While it is quite impressive the false sense of confidence you gain by putting on a revealing Halloween costume (that year, sexy fairy), it was not the source of my courage that evening. The credit goes to the bottle of cheap wine I bought because I loved the label, and the name: Junebug.
So there you have it -Junebug, in this case, is not the who/what/where you would assume it to be, but the term I've coined for this blog and the courage to say all the things I usually just think.
Are you ready to learn a new language?
 |
| The famous bottle of Junebug. |
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