Monday, April 30, 2012

Disney Characters in Real Life

I stumbled upon these illustrations, the work of Jirka Väätäinen, of Disney cartoon characters in real-life.

I am absolutely fascinated and thought I'd share a few.  For the full collection, check out his site.   







Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Dating Emissions

Let's say you are on a date.

He's a funny fella and you begin to laugh rather vigorously in the ice cream aisle.

Let's say you then have a sneak attack of gaseous emissions.

You can see him trying to remain composed.

Let's say you then begin to laugh uncontrollably instead of succumbing to the embarrassment.

You are both then laughing like hyenas in the ice cream aisle, scaring away any passersby.

Let's say you are me and it was last Saturday night.  Now aren't you glad it wasn't you? 

You're welcome. 

Monday, April 23, 2012

Funniest Typo on Ebay

This has to be the funniest thing I've seen on Ebay in my 13 years as a member. 

Enjoy.

Friday, April 20, 2012

The Importance of Being Perfect

I have a problem.

I think I need to be perfect.

The interesting twist is that this idea is nothing that has been imposed upon me by society, family members, or other outside influences.  You constantly hear about how society needs to stop pushing its ideas of who we should or shouldn't be.

But what to do if this is some idea that I have concocted and enforced upon myself?

My long-time readers and friends will know that I have had a life-long struggle with fitness or lack thereof.  But now that I have had everything under control for a few years, "body image" is not the source of my perfectly distorted imposition of perfection.

So what is it?

I've always been that child whose parents didn't need to punish her - I was tougher on myself than they ever were.  I've always been the over achiever smarty pants.  Whenever I have decided to do something in my life, there is no turning back - I do it and I do it perfectly.  Sure, I took three years to pick my major in college, but once I did, I went so far as to be one of only 3 Public Relations students accepted to the New York City Internship program.  Sure, I didn't start gymnastics until I was 12, but once I started, I had earned a place on the team within 6 months.  Sure, I didn't desire to be in show choir until my junior year, but I made it my first audition.  Sure, my company didn't do an "employee of the year" award until I'd been here almost 4 years, but as soon as they awarded one, that baby was mine.

Are you seeing a trend here?  Yeah.  Me too.

I've always thought I was simply driven, motivated, dedicated, passionate, and all of those other synonyms.  I've always obeyed authority and laws and regulations and even just signs...yeah I'm one of those who won't walk a step past a "do not trespass sign."  So silly.  I've always looked at others and thought, "It is okay for them to make mistakes, but not me."  I never once judged another person for the same mistakes I beat myself up over.  Recently, something absolutely inconsequential happened that tarnished my perfect record in my mind.  I made a mistake.  A mistake I couldn't explain or displace blame.  Just a normal, human mistake.   My image of myself shattered - who would people think I am if I'm not perfect - who am I?! 

I all of a sudden saw myself from a distance.  I wanted to slap myself and say, "Are you SERIOUS right now?  Is this a big deal AT ALL?  Life happens!"  All those times I've been worried about being late because someone may think less of me, all those times I couldn't sleep because I worried I'd said something that would make someone perceive me as unintelligent, all of those times I was disgusted with myself on a clumsy day when I seemed to drop or run into everything and worried others may not respect me if they knew, all of those times I skipped the gym and thought I was a failure for missing a commitment...all of those times....all of those times...

THEY DON'T MATTER!

My life is wonderful.  I have been blessed beyond anything I ever could have dreamed of as a child.  I have a family who love me, friends who would drop anything for me, health that stays with me in spite of what genetics threaten me with, fitness that improves daily, skills, intelligence...my life is sunshine, lollipops and rainbows!

Why am I so worried all the time?  For the love of everything good and decent, I need to stop it.  I want to stop it.  My friend Dennis has this sign he gives me when I need to calm down that I picture more and more recently.

I have a goal to be less perfect.  I have a goal to embrace my mistakes.  I have a goal to laugh a whole lot more about life.  I have a goal to walk past a "do not trespass" sign.  I have a goal to purposefully make a mess in the kitchen...and leave it there for more than five minutes.   

Life is joyful.  I am going to live it as such.  If you see yourself in any of what I've just shared, please, let's make a little pact: stop worrying, bask in imperfection, enjoy life more. 

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Evil Queen

My long-time friend and old roommate, Stephanie Fowers, asked me to help her on a project this past Saturday.

I was rather amused with the idea she had of innocent-looking me playing a bit part as an evil queen for a music video she is putting together for an LDS writers conference.

I was even more amused with her costume choices.  I really had no idea how I looked, she just kept putting things on me.  So I took a photo.

Now, let me state that I am very much not a fan of "Myspace photos."  You know, where a gal takes a photo of herself and then makes it look all doctored up and then pretends like she doesn't think she's hot in those photos and then posts them to shop for compliments to which she denies, therefore earning her even more compliments.  I just find it interesting how things come together sometimes.  And slightly embarrassing that, yes, I walked around downtown Salt Lake this way and, yes, I look like a LARPer.  I never know what I'm going to get myself into. 

Anyway, I took a photo.  Then I played around with the photo.  And for some reason, I'm quite intrigued with the results, so I thought I'd share.  Maybe it is that I actually look mean.  I showed a friend, who had no idea what the project was for, and he remarked, "You look like you are going to cast an evil spell on me!"  Well guessed, sir.  Another asked if I could point him towards Rivendell.

What's your favorite?

Original
Instagram - I think this one is my fav
I'd make a great cartoon, right?
This reminds me of that scene in Star Wars when Han gets flash frozen. 
Hot dang.  If my eyes only looked that good in real life!

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Centerpoint Legacy Theater: The Importance of Being Earnest

Two weeks ago I had the privilege of watching my amazingly talented actress friend, Megan Smyth, perform the role of Gwendolen in The Importance of Being Earnest at Centerpoint Legacy Theater in Centerville, Utah.

She had shared with me many of her moments of worry and moments of glory, so I actually spent most of the play trying to observe her so I could give her feedback.  Thank heavens everyone was so delightful that nothing really stood out to me as a detraction from anyone's performance.  I giggled a little as some of the actors slid out of their accents or made a modern gesture, but those occurrences were far and few between.

The men were handsome.  Jack, as played by Jon Rash, in particular.  I love when a theater is able to find a handsome leading man and let's just say I really loved this theater's choice.  Allyson Sanders, the young lady playing Cecily, is just a gem.  She is delightful and sparklingly beautiful in every way.  Allyson filled the stage with every nuance of her character utterly convincingly.  Not only were these performers talented, but you really wanted to watch them.  I'm sorry, but aesthetics is a part of theater.

So what did I think of Megan's performance?  This is what I shared with her in writing: 

You did a fantastic job!  You were just quirky enough that that cleaarrrrrly came across in the character but did not leave us at all wondering why Jack/Jon/Earnest would want to be with you.  Make sense?   Did I think it weird that no one kissed kissed?  If only one couple had kissed, I would have thought it weird, but since both did cheeks, I thought it was period and I actually think it simplified matters.  Although marriage is being discussed, the comedy is so light-hearted that kissing almost seems too serious and romantic.  I think all the proper sentiments were displayed with the longing looks, the dialogue, and the cheek-kisses." 

Megan has this arsenal of dynamic facial expressions to convey layers in her characters.  She is one of the sweetest, kindest, most wholesome young ladies I've ever met, but she delivered one scandalous line with such finesse, she had me utterly convinced she was out to seduce Earnest.  Thinking back on it, I start to giggle all over again.

Let it be known, the genre of The Importance of Being Earnest is not my forte nor my preference.  However, this production is highly enjoyable, even for me!  This was my first time seeing it live and I would very much recommend you go see this one, especially if you love Oscar Wilde.  They do him proud.

Megan's cast (Go see this one! Go see this one!) is T/Th/S and plays until April 28.  You can, should, and will buy tickets here.  They've been selling out, so buy in advance!

My Little Poof Tail

Every once in awhile I geek out about my tiny tiger.  It's allowable in moderation, right?

I call her "my little poof tail" because she has this ridiculously poofy tail she flaunts like there's no tomorrow.  She also carries it like a squirrel tail - always up and curled around.

One of my favorite things about her is that she waits until I fall asleep every night before crawling into the nook of my arm, snuggling her little head on my shoulder or just under my chin, and stretching her paw across my chest.  When I wake up, she begins purring.  Silly as it sounds, this is a tender moment I share with my little four-legged companion each morning - always starting the day off right.

This is my view first thing each morning

Monday, April 16, 2012

I Could Die Happy

Do you ever have those days where, when you rest your head on your pillow to sleep, you think to yourself, "Today was a great day - I could not have made it much better.  I think I could die happy."?

Spring is in the air.  Change is on the horizon.  Friends are coming out of the woodworks to play and love and make new memories.  My sheets and blankets are freshly laundered (seriously, does life get much better than snuggling into fresh bedclothes?).  Life is good.

Sunday, April 15, 2012

Does His Smile Make You Swoon?

Ladies, you know there are features about men that typically make you swoon - what is it for you?  And none of this business about anyone "objectifying" anyone - physical attraction is kinda an important thing if you are ever gonna make babies and there is a type for everyone. 

For me, one of the biggest attractors is broad, defined shoulders.  I think that trait has come to equal "most likely fit and healthy" and I find myself drawn that direction.

Now, spill it.  
(and feel free to do so anonymously if you'd like)  

Well, Hello, Don't mind if I Hugh...

Friday, April 13, 2012

Music and The Men or Women You Date

Do you think similar taste in music impacts your relationships?

I never thought it did, the mere idea was absurd.

But more and more recently I am paying attention to the types of music the men I have dated/am interested in enjoy.  

And let me tell you, there is a remarkable correlation.  Perhaps similar taste in music is just another item on a list of things that create a bond, but I feel it is more than that.

To give you an example from my life, I prefer music that is more than just noise.  If there is screaming or heavy metal clanging with indistinguishable lyrics that are spattered with swear words, I'm not going to enjoy it.  I have yet to encounter a man who does enjoy that type of music as their main preference with whom I would be able to develop a steady romantic relationship.  Yes, I have tried. I do not believe the types of men who listen to this music make the same choices in life as the types of men, who say, prefer Dean Martin.

I did some research and found studies supporting my hypothesis - even a dating website that matches people based on level of passion in music.

One study from psychology researcher and author, Geoffrey Miller, states that, "...most of our skills, including skills of musicianship, are meant for survival, with the sole means to reproduce and bear offspring.  To be a musician, one must have an inherent sense of creativity, motor skills, language skills and emotional sensitivity to be able to evoke emotional feelings through the creation of musical tones and rhythms...survival is a pure act of sexual selection based on courtship tools: we either have the tools to pass on our genes or we don't.  Therefore, skills like musical ability are an attraction mechanism."

I'll take this one a step further and state that what we perceive as musical ability is the key to the attraction mechanism here.  You find someone singing your same song and you are going to perceive that as musical ability.

Charles Darwin, father of evolutionary genetics, believed that having musical ability that could bring people together to socialize was akin to being socially adept - music is another language used to communicate.

Author Daniel Levitin wrote a book, This is Your Brain on Music, where he "reported that he used brain imaging to observe what happens in the minds of those listening to music, and found that excited nerves began first firing in the auditory system and then cascaded into the pleasure, reward and expectation centers of the brain.  Music can elevate dopamine levels in the brain, similar to the way narcotics and some antidepressants work."

I loved the abstract of another study, "Effects of associating with musical genres on heterosexual attraction."  Basically, levels of attraction changed, no matter the physical appearance, based on the type of music the subject preferred. 

But does musical preference really matter in a relationship?  Nope.  I agree with the VP of Research and Development  of eHarmony, J. Galen Buckwalter, Ph.D., "Provided the differences in specific areas of interest are viewed in a broader context that includes personality and values, there should be no problem.  Sharing a similar approach to processing new information will likely prove much more important to long-term satisfaction than whether the specific foci of interests are similar." 

To me, different taste of music isn't going to make it or break it, but I'll certainly keep my eyes (ears) open a little more in the future as my former "subjects" have helped me to realize this may be something more important to me than not.

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

The Power of Music

I love music.

I don't think anything else can touch the part of my heart that music brings to life.

This video shows just how much music truly can bring us to life.  Enjoy.

Engagement Photos

Don't panic!  NOT mine.

Aren't my sissy and her fiancee, Matt, adorable?!

They are getting married in September on the Cincinnati Reds Baseball Field.  How awesome is that?




Monday, April 9, 2012

Nik Day Music

My director from Arsenic and Old Lace, Tucker Dansie, is a man of many gifted talents.  And he introduced me to something I am thrilled about.

What is it?

The music of Nik Day.  Have a listen for yourself.  Or at least listen to learn about what kind of music I like.

Tucker directed this first video (only the first one, the others were other madskillz folks) - W.O.W.  I can't believe I have been so blessed as to work with people of this caliber of skill and talent!





Matt Damon's Brother

I was watching television last Wednesday night for approximately thirty minutes whilst I consumed some nutritional sustenance.

And I saw this guy:

Matt Damon's look-alike
He looks like Matt Damon's brother, right?  I couldn't get over it!

Real Matt Damon

But he's not.  His name is Jesse Plemons.  Who knew?

And now a friend is suggesting a third into the mix - my friend's hubby.  What say you?



I wonder who my doppelganger is?

Friday, April 6, 2012

BYU USGA

BYU USGA is a group dedicated to "Understanding Same-Gender Attraction."

I am not going to go into depth on this, other than to say I believe understanding is important for everyone and I hope this helps so many out there.  I support this cause.  I know many who need to know they are not alone and will be touched and uplifted. 

Read this: http://trevorantley.com/2012/04/05/byus-gay-mormon-panel-a-huge-success/

Visit here: http://farbetweenmovie.com/ (excellent interviews)

Watch this:

Thursday, April 5, 2012

Emma Stone and Kristin Chenoweth - Dance Dare!

I cannot get enough of this.  My friends are sharing it everywhere and now I am going to as well.  Because if you haven't seen it yet, you need to.  You will laugh!

In advance, you're welcome!




 

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man

"[If a man] hasn't lined up the who he is, the what he does, and the how much he makes in the way that he sees fit, he can't possibly be to you what he wants to be. Which means that you can't really have the man you want. He can't sit around talking with you, or dream about marriage and family, if his mind is on how to make money, how to get a better position, how to be the kind of man he needs to be for you."

Your brain is exploding out of your ears now, right?  Or you are kicking yourself thinking, "I know this, I know this, I know this.  Why do I always convince myself of otherwise?" Wait, there's more. 

"In my experience, these facts don't always sit well with most women. Many of you figure that if a man truly loves you, the two of you should be able to pursue your dreams together. {Uh, no, I never think that....DANG IT...get out of my brain!} Stability is important to you, but you'd rather build the foundation of your relationship together, no matter the man's station in life. This is honorable, but really, it's not the way men work. His eye will be on the prize, and that prize may not necessarily be you if he isn't up to where he wants to be in life. It's impossible for us to focus on the two-- we're just not that gifted, sorry."


Comedian Steve Harvey wrote "Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man."  I shunned the preposterousness of this fella writing a book on dating for quite some time until I read the aforementioned gems on another blog.  She shared, "He goes on to say they don't necessarily have to be completely established or at the end of their road, so long as they are on the track to achieving their goals and they feel secure in their position."

I've often expressed that I feel as if I am always catching men in the middle of their identity crises...and the above pretty much pinpoints the scenario.  

What thoughts do you have on the matter? 
 

Monday, April 2, 2012

Apocalypse Now: Food Storage

I went to the gun store last week with a good pal and we got into a rather interesting discussion.  Unfortunately, this was not the first time I'd had a similar discussion.

He began, "My parents were just in here last week buying guns."
I responded, "Why were they buying guns?  I didn't realize your dad was into shooting or hunting."
"They buy guns to protect their food storage."
"Oooooh.  Well, I'd rather die of starvation than shoot people to protect my food.  Cause you are eventually going to have to kill a lot of people because they'll keep coming and I just wouldn't want that much blood on my hands."
"Well, think about it - you need to protect your family!  It isn't just about you - it's about them."
"But you'll still have to kill a lot of people and you'll still get it taken in the end anyway.  How long are a few guns going to thwart people?  And what if they get hold of a gun?  Cause that will most likely be easier to get hold of than food."
"I don't know."

First of all, what a silly conversation.  Amiright?

Second, do I think this is all really going to happen?  No, no I don't. 

Third, yes, I would really rather die of starvation than kill someone.

Fourth, did you know they have food storage vendors at gun shows?  Ha.  

Have you all had this conversation before?  What's your take?