Laziness

Because of the internet, I have become the laziest person every.

--I don't go to the library to look up books (sadly I don't even know how to find books at the library - how sad is that!?), I just go to the hbll website.
--I feel like I tend to spend more time reading about exercise and health from an online magazine than I actually spend putting them into practice. 
--Instead of getting off the couch and walking around a store to window shop, I just sit on my bum on the couch and do it online.
--and several other things, which I am too lazy to use my precious brain power to think of.

In sum, the media is making us fat because we just sit down and use our little fingers to exercise, rather than our whole bodies.

Alarms

I'll be honest.  I don't know what I would do without the alarm on my phone.  I think that is one of the most useful forms of technology that I have.  I remember growing up with a clock radio that would turn on at the previously selected time each morning.  Now that we live in a tiny apartment, it is nice having a little 5x2inch portable alarm - aka my phone.  So, when we go on road trips, I have an alarm with me.  So nice.

ESPN March Madness

Today I officially filled out my bracket for the basketball games.  I never watch any of the games, but last year I filled out the bracket and it was really fun competing against my husband even though I had no idea which teams were good or not.......

I feel like this is a positive game for couples to play because you will always win at least a few of your brackets, and it can be a fun way for us and our husbands to connect.

By the way -  I'm totally going to win this year! (cross fingers, ya right...) But, I have Gonzaga winning (are they even good? Someone ranked them as #1, so I'm just going with that!)

America's Spring Trends

I'm not a trendy person at all.  I still wear the same clothes that I wore in high school... So, I decided to look up online what the world says the trends are for Spring 2013.  Google took me to Glamour Fashion, so that is where I got this picture from.

When this popped up as the first picture I had a few thoughts...

1,) Hey! They're all modest!
2.) Those models are too skinny (like what we learned about in class today)
3.) None of them are smiling or look happy, which makes them look less attractive.
4.) I wore jean shorts like the one on the right when I was growing up, so that must mean in a few more years the clothes I am wearing now will finally be fashionable!
5.) Do people actually wear what the middle girl is wearing?

The media tells us what is in and what isn't. whether it is good or bad.  We need to be aware that the media can influence how we dress and appear in front of others.  But, this time I'm glad at least it's modest!

kids-in-mind.com

I love this website!  Here is their description of what the website is and does:

"We enable adults to determine whether a movie is appropriate for them or their children, according to their own criteria. Unlike the MPAA we do not assign an inscrutable rating based on age but 3 objective ratings for SEX/NUDITY, VIOLENCE/GORE & PROFANITY, on a scale of 0 to 10, and we explain in detail why a film rates high or low in a specific category; we also include instances of SUBSTANCE USE, a thorough list of DISCUSSION TOPICS that may elicit questions from children, and the MESSAGE the film conveys. Since our system is based on objective standards, not the viewer's age or the artistic merits of a film, we enable adults to determine whether a movie is appropriate for their own children..."

However, because it is user rated, sometimes it isn't rated as harshly as it should be, or is too harsh.  I do like how they tell you every single instance of sex/nudity.  It's really funny sometimes, like "a guy kisses a girl on the cheek" (OH NO! someone shield my eyes!!!) lol.

I highly recommend this website!

Mommy/Baby Forums

I love reading forums on sites for moms with babies (such as babycenter).  It is really comforting if I have a question about my child to be able to look for similar questions that have been asked and find out what real moms have said about it.

One of my recent searches was for babies with Failure to Thrive.  This refers to children whose current weight or rate of weight gain is significantly lower than that of other children of similar age and gender.  My daughter's doctor said she might have that, so it was so comforting to read about other women who have gone through the same thing with their children.  I feel like I am more prepared to go to future appointments with a special pediatrician and dietitian to solve this problem.  Now if we have to go to a dietitian and they say to pour whipping cream and melted butter in all of her food, I won't think they are nuts because other moms are doing that to their kids too.

Media isn't always a bad thing.  It can bring people together that need a support group.  I just love babycenter too :)  Check out the website!  babycenter.com

Pitch Perfect

We finally saw the movie Pitch Perfect.  My husband and I were laughing at all of the little side comments that were said.  I loved the music, but because of this class I had a different view of the movie.  There was a lot of relational aggression, sex, inappropriate messages for the intended audience, etc.

If I were watching this movie through the eyes of a freshman non-LDS girl going to college, these are the things I would learn from the movie:

1.) Upper classmen are allowed to bully underclassman.
2.) It's perfectly normal to have sex in the dorm showers.  In fact, its perfectly normal to just be naked in front of people.
3.) Drinking is normal, and even if you are under 21, if you are at college, it is ok to drink.  (They drank in 3-4 scenes of the movie!)
4.) Parents are okay with freshman drinking (the scene where the dad is about to walk into the dorm and says to put the wine bottles away or something)
5.) You are figuring out life right now and your identity, so it is normal to shut people away, as long as you come back to them later on.
6.) In a group of 10 girls, at least 1 of them will be lesbian.
7.) If you room with someone you don't know, they will hate you or will be really weird (or both).
8.) Its okay to show off your womanly curves in an inappropriately suggestive way to get guys to sleep with you.

The media is sending very wrong messages about what life should be like, in my opinion.  But, maybe that's my naive BYU self

8-Week Health Challenge

Yesterday on Facebook, a friend of mine announced that she was going to do an 8-week health challenge, and asked all of her friends if we wanted to join her.  Here is the challenge:

You have ten "tasks" a day for 8 weeks with one free day a week. The tasks are:
1. 7 hours of sleep
2. Drink 64oz of water
3. 45 minutes of exercise
4. Write in your journal
5. 15 minutes of inspirational reading
6. Random act of kindness
7. No eating after 8pm
8. No white flour
9. No sugar, fast food, or junk food
10. 2 servings fruit & 2 servings vegetables

Here are my thoughts:
1. I have a baby who doesn't sleep through the night, so I get 7 hours most nights, but definitely not in a row!
2. I don't really like drinking water, so I will feel like I'm drowning myself.
3. I exercise really intensely for 1 1/2-3hrs 3x/week because I'm on the BYU women's ultimate frisbee team, but those are the only days I exercise.
4. I am terrible at remembering to write in my journal!  But, it is already a goal of mine to do better at.
5. CHECK! This is the only one I am already doing!  Haven't missed a day of reading 2 chapters in the Book of Mormon every night for 2 years and 7 1/2 months!
6. Maybe I already do this? I don't know, I'm not very random...
7. Ha! Half the time we don't get around to eating dinner until after 8pm.
8. Wheat flour is so expensive! That's all I have to say about that one.
9. I hate to admit it, but we go out to eat AT LEAST once a week.  We don't eat junk food though! But those counter act each other...
10.  I love fruit, but it is so time consuming.  I don't know why, but it just sounds more appealing to eat a granola bar than to wash an apple and then eat it.  Definitely need to do better at this one.

So, after reading the 10 things and deciding whether or not it was possible to do this for 8 weeks, I decided I can't do it.  Lame, I know.  BUT, I have decided to do each item on the list for 5 straight days before adding in another one.  I  figure that will be better than nothing.  So, to start with #1: 7 hours of sleep.  Have fun getting up with the baby, my sweet husband!  Then on Sunday I will add in the water.  Wish me luck!

It is nice to know that other people are doing the challenge, and that if I did end up deciding to join in full-swing that I would have support on Facebook from my friends.  The media is such a great motivator sometimes! Or... a demotivate when I decide to sit idle using my computer.... but for this post, we'll call it a motivator!