Spring is finally here!

It is officially 77 degrees in Milwaukee! While I have been hoping for this weather for months now, I wasn’t quite ready when I ran out the door for work this morning in a sweater. I was cutting it close, as usual, so there was no time to try to find something else to wear. But I can’t complain because this is awesome! I love warm weather, the sun makes me feel so much more motivated, and winter definitely is not my season. The winter makes my skin dry, my lips chapped, and all I want to do is eat and sleep. I’m glad that is over, now I can go into spring and summer feeling refreshed and like a new person. Here are some of the things I’m doing this year to get ready for the nice weather.

Not me, but spring makes me want to jump too!

1. Working towards a healthier lifestyle – Those of you that have visited this blog before know that Emily and I are in the early stage of our fitness challenge. A mini update, I slacked quite a bit this weekend when I went to visit my parents. Despite dragging my yoga mat and other equipment with me, I spent my time with my family instead of working out, which was a little bit of a bummer, but the family time was great! I’ve been back on track since I got back, pushing myself just a little harder to make up for lost time. The new weather calls for more outdoor activities whenever possible!

2. New hair – I’ve always felt changing your hair is the easiest way to change your mood. I remember once when I was about four I cut a big chunk of what I thought were my bangs because I wanted to make a “difference”, I made a difference all right. While I no longer resort to cutting my own hair, I often find myself doing something with it at least a few times a year. I’ve tried different colors, black was my favorite in high school, I often try reds, and I even braved blonde a few years ago! Lately I’ve preferred to stick with shades that are in close range of my naturally dark brown hair, but haircuts have been my hair change go-to. About two months ago I cut my hair into a pixie and it has been growing really fast, to update it for summer I’m going to go just a touch darker to make my hair seem a bit sleeker and less boyish.

3. Summer essentials – I rarely paint my nails, but with all of the trendy nail colors right now, I had to give in. I love mint green and coral for nails, right now I tried a bright, cool blue which my sister called Tiffany Box Blue and it makes me smile every time I type. I bought a few breezy shirts, a long flowy skirt, and a cute summer dress to add to my wardrobe, all I need are some sandals and I’m all set. I also love my wide brimmed hat for summer!

4. Just a little tweaking – Although I have tried tanning beds in college, they kind of scare me, and with all of the negative effects we know they can cause, I just avoid them. However, I do like to use self-tanner to give my color a boost since it will still be a while before I am out enough to take in some sun. I also whiten my teeth every so often, and this is usually when I like to do it. I think we all tend to smile a little bit more, and I like my pearly whites at their best. I love summer because since my skin starts getting better I can lighten up on everything. I use a light moisturizer instead of cream, use a tinted BB cream instead of foundation, and often just curl my lashes and skip mascara since I naturally look more awake. I’ve switched my favorite red lipsticks for colored balms, like I said, I’m hooked on Maybelline’s Baby Lips! Coral Crush is my favorite.

I’m always interested to hear what other people do to get out of their winter funk, let me know of what you do to get ready for spring and summer, all tips are welcome!
Best,
Cris

Media Monday: Horror Films

It’s Media Monday again, and it is perfect timing.

Hugo and I love going to the movies, and on Friday we went to see Evil Dead, which I was convinced was about zombies for some reason.  I really wanted to go see the movie 42, about Jackie Robinson, but Hugo was in the mood for something scary and my choices were between Lords of Salem and Evil Dead.  I was going to stay the weekend at my parent’s house a couple hours away and I wanted to see the least scary one so I wouldn’t be too scared spending the night alone. The trailer to Lords of Salem creeped me out, and I was sure Evil Dead was about zombies so I didn’t even watch the trailer.  Evil Dead it is!  I mean how scary are zombies, honestly?

So we went, got popcorn, and settled in our seats.  Two minutes into the movie it was very clear it was not about zombies at all, which apparently, Hugo who did watch the trailer, already knew.  But whatever, I really enjoy scary movies.  I think I lasted about twenty minutes before I shut my eyes during a part… and they didn’t open again.  I tried to watch snippets here and there, but it was rough.  I tried falling asleep, but the sound effects were just as bad.  Hugo finally saved me from my misery and said we should just go.  I have never left during a movie before, not even when I went to go see Black Xmas on Christmas Day; I was a little ashamed.

It really got to me and I don’t know why, I’ve seen tons of scary movies over the years and I kept reminding myself that as a film student, I should  know better.  I see almost all the new ones that come out if they look good, and I went through a time in college where I would watch all of the old 60’s and 70’s scary films. During long drives, Hugo and I like to listen to scary story podcasts.  It’s a mystery, but I think it may have been a mix of the timing since I was going out of town, the plot, and how gruesome it was.  Walking out, I did see this poster; it simultaneously made me feel relieved yet somewhat like more of a punk for not being able to watch it.

Great…

It’s unlikely I’ll try watching it again, but not impossible, I may give it a second shot once it’s on DVD.  I’m definitely not the right person to review this movie, seeing as I only got about a third of the way through, so instead I’ve made a list of some of my favorite scary movies.  This is in no way supposed to be a list of the best or most classic scary movies, just a rundown of the ones I’ve enjoyed the most over the years, usually while sharing a bowl of popcorn with Hugo.  Here are ten I think are worth seeing, in order by which they were released.  I’ll try not to spoil any of them for you!

1.  The Bad Seed (1956) – Oh Rhoda!  Scary kids are by far the scariest element in most horror movies in my opinion.  They make you feel horrible because you want them to be destroyed, yet they’re kids, which puts you in a pretty bad predicament.  In scary movies though, they’re usually manipulative and pure evil and Rhoda is likely the one that started it all.

2.  Strait-Jacket (1964) – One of the few scary movies I’ve seen by myself, I came across Strait-Jacket one night on Svenghoulie.  I don’t know how many people are familiar with Svenghoulie or if it’s just a Chicago program, but he’s basically a TV host who dresses like a vampire and shows old horror films.  Strait-Jacket is about a woman who had been in a mental institution for years for killing her husband and his mistress and returns to stay with her daughter right before her daughter is to marry. While not the scariest of the movies on this list, it definitely has an interesting twist.

3.  Rosemary’s Baby (1968) – A classic which also inspired a classic haircut!  The details are what really mess with you.  The opening credits consist of a pan across a cityscape with pink lettering as a soft, almost ominous, lullaby plays.  It also has some very noteworthy scenes that were discussed in almost every film class I had.  Hugo is not as big a fan of old movies as I am, but I once walked in on him showing scenes to his brother and discussing the cinematography like my old classmates… he studies Sociology.

4. Psycho (1960) – No scary movie list is complete without the cult classic.  The first old scary film I saw was Psycho, and it is undeniably good.  It is scary, not ghost scary, but actually scary… reminds me that people can be scary, and strange.  Watch Psycho.

5.  Pet Sematary (1989) – I remember hearing my sisters talk about Pet Sematary when I was younger, but I didn’t see it until about a year ago.  This movie shows that some people just never learn from their mistakes.  Do not, I repeat DO NOT bury your family in sacred ground in a pet cemetery unless you want them to come back evil.  You can’t even consider them zombies, just evil, and it includes another one of those horrible scary kids.

6.  Paranormal Activity (2007) – I put this under the first film’s release date, but I really enjoyed them all, particularly the third one.  Paranormal Activity started a trend by using what seems to be found footage which has been used in several films since then.  I thought the method of shooting the film was clever, and no matter how many times I’ve seen them, they always make me jump.

7.  The Orphanage (2007) – I always try to support artists from Jalisco, Mexico, and producer Guillermo del Toro is among my favorites.  The Spanish language film titled El Orfanato is frightening throughout, but the ending is what haunted me for months afterward.  I always recommend it to people who are looking for a good scary movie.  Actually, I usually rent it for them myself and watch it with them, just to make sure they saw it.

8.  Insidious (2010) – This movie truly terrified me when I first saw it and is among the top three scary movies for me.  It’s another one I recommend often.  It’s just one of those movies that’s a crowd pleaser; fairly new, good story, and with a lot of scary twists without being too confusing.  The thing I liked the most about it was its lack of gore, if I closed my eyes during the movie it was because it was truly scary not just making my stomach churn.

9.  Julia’s Eyes (2010) – Another one by Guillermo del Toro, Ojos de Julia is unique and suspenseful.  Since I was a kid, one of my biggest fears has been to be blind, and this movie definitely played on that fear.  It kept my mind going and my heart pumping trying to figure out what would happen next.

10.  Sinister (2012) – One of the things I like least about this movie is what Hugo like the most, I’m about to spoil the ending, so stop reading if you intend to watch it, evil triumphs.  I know, this type of deviation from the standards of what people expect to see are what make movies fresh and unique, and while I think it was a good move from the filmmaker’s standpoint, I still wish the main character would have found a way to overcome the evil.  I think those types of endings help me cope a little better after watching a scary movie; I may have been constantly frightened for two hours but at least the end was happy and I can go on with my life in only moderate fear.  This movie makes the list because it scared me, bad.  I probably won’t watch it again, it’s one of those you probably only want to watch  once, but it has one of the most clever and ingenious use of sound and visuals that it can’t be excluded.  During a scene in which the main character is walking around his house pondering the evil he has inevitably brought upon his family, he hears creaking, the regular kind you hear in any house.  But it is not the regular kind at all!  Or is it?!  Every creak is caused by ghosts running around his home that he can’t see but the audience can.  I still can’t hear any little noise around my house without automatically tensing up.  Watch the movie because I can’t give that part  justice trying to describe it.

Do you have any recommendations for a must see horror film?  Let me know!

Have Fun,

Cris

Diet & Exercise Apps Review

YUM! For #cleaneating inspiration follow lovehealthyfood_ at http://bit.ly/162OsQZ

I used to be a real skeptic about keeping a food journal or really tracking my exercise in a meaningful way. I’d read all the magazine articles and tips about the benefits, but it just seemed like a hassle to me at best.  At its worst, it seemed useless because whenever I had tried it before, I just didn’t write things down if I overindulged. Plus, looking up calorie counts was a pain, and I was always self-conscious about the possibility of someone finding my food journal in my bag.

However, this time around, technology is lending a serious advantage to my food and fitness tracking. By making accountability easy and removing many of the hassles that used to be my excuses, I am making consistent progress. Read on for my favorite (free!) fitness apps.

My Fitness Pal

This was the little app that convinced me once and for all that I could handle a food journal. It has the most extensive inventory of calorie counts on foods from homemade recipes to fast food treats.  I have tried other calorie counter apps and My Fitness Pal has the most simple layout and is most user friendly.  One of my favorite features is that each day when you complete your food journal, the app calculates your anticipated weight for about a month into the future if you keep up the exercise and calorie intake of that day. By connecting my daily habits to a long-term result, My Fitness Pal makes me accountable and aware of my food intake.

Couch to 5K (C25K)

I always wanted to try interval training, but found excuses not too because I didn’t like having to time myself for the different activities. However, in order to work my way up to running a 5k, I knew I could not just start off running because I wasn’t fit enough yet. The free version of C25K is fantastic, because has a walk/run interval plan with audio cues to tell you when to switch it up! I just plug in my earphones and away I go without having to keep track on a stopwatch.  What’s more, I can listen to my own music playlists at the same time, and C25K just interjects the cues throughout my workout.

Instagram

Okay, I know this is not really a fitness app. But hear me out, because there is a huge community of people on Instagram that are supporting and motivating each other towards better habits.  At first, I was wary of such groups on Instagram, because I had heard terrible stories about the glorification of unhealthy ideals through the pro-anorexia and pro-bulimia movements. That disturbed me, and those ideals are against my health goals.  But when I came across the #cleaneating hashtag, I found a more positive message.  I started following users who were posting pictures of amazing-looking meals comprised of simple ingredients with a heavy focus on fruits and vegetables. Seriously, I challenge you to follow user LoveHealthyFood and not be salivating over veggie stir-fries and fruit salads.  For positive and motivating fitness posts, I follow the user Fitmotivation for inspirational quotes and pictures.

What are your favorite exercise and eating tools? Who else should I be following on Instagram for motivation? Share below,  tweet us @somelikeithot9, or follow me on Instagram: emmyl0u6 

xx, Emily

Update: Week 1 is done!

Emily brought up several things yesterday that often bother me as well, and I’m sure that many of you have the same frustrations of dealing with backhanded compliments and unwanted advice.  That was definitely a reminder that this challenge is about me and my well being.  I may not work at the same pace as others but that’s ok, I have to do what I feel comfortable with and find what works for me, what will make me happy, and what will help reach MY goals for myself.

Overall, my first week went really well. I had mentioned before that I prefer to work out at home because I don’t like how competitive gyms can be, and I have to be able to squeeze my exercise into whatever time I can. That being said, I’ve been doing power yoga using a video at home every other day and I’m already starting to notice a difference. It’s definitely more of something I can feel than rather than see, but progress is progress.  A few days ago I actually tried going on a run for the first time in forever. It was the first really nice day in Milwaukee; I got home from work and didn’t really think about it, just got my sweats and gym shoes on before I could think about it and change my mind.
As running goes, it was pretty disastrous. I didn’t last as long as I had wanted and was walking for more than half of it, but considering my past with running, I was satisfied and will give it another go once this rain stops.

On Saturday I chose to skip for Fight Night and watch some real athletes instead. The Canelo v. Trout fight was awesome. PS Canelo is from Jalisco, MX!

I’ve been making big batches of fruit and veggie smoothies so I can have them on hand when I go to work last minute. I also stocked up on fruits like bananas, apples, and oranges so I can take them as snacks. I’m proud to say that these two little changes completely cut out the snacks from gas stations and vending machines that I used to rely on to refuel. Rice has always been a staple of mine when I cook, but I’ve replaced it with lots and lots of sauteed vegetables.

I’ve really noticed a difference in my energy level and can feel some muscles working that had been underused for way too long. If week one is any indicator of what is to come, I am definitely loving this healthier lifestyle. However I do still have to work on my sweet tooth, it is definitely my hardest habit to kick!

My tip of the week: If you are like me and always forget to take your vitamins, follow the example of the older and wiser. I thought about getting a pill box to set out my vitamins for the week, but instead I put the vitamins I take in a little cup (the kind that come with a bottle of Nyquil) on my kitchen counter. I take them in the morning and then put new ones in the cup so that they will be ready for the next morning, haven’t forgotten them yet!

– Cris

Media Monday

So we promised a blog for media junkies like us, and our first media article is here! And love it or hate it, this article is about… drumroll please, Twilight.

Yes, Twilight, the favorite book of young girls everywhere, and some not so young. The book which led to the movie that created a fanbase who call themselves “Twihards”, which sound like a candy. Can I have some Twihards, please?

Don’t roll your eyes yet! Or don’t click away at least, Twilight isn’t all bad.
If your first reaction is to click away and never look back, I understand, I would have probably done the same a few months ago. I’m not saying I completely hated Twilight, I just could never get into it. My first exposure to the book was in a college lecture.  A classmate was reading it and claimed it was very good.  She was obviously very excited about it and mentioned the movie was going to be coming out. After explaining the premise to me, a girl in a small town in love with a vampire, I politely feigned interest and went back to mynotes, thanks but no thanks on that one.

I did eventually see the first film with my niece, and I think I saw about fifteen minutes of New Moon and maybe the end of Eclipse. I never felt like I was missing much so I wasn’t terribly upset about it.  However, I did finally see the last film a few weeks ago because my in-laws were watching it.

I had never been interested in reading the books, but after several long work shifts spent in hospital waiting rooms, the Twilight Saga app for my phone was my new best friend. It was actually quite good, I read it all the time and had soon finished the first book. So as is most often the case, the book was much better than the movie, and the biggest flaw I found was the character of Bella.

I have always felt that a lot of people criticize Kristen Stewart unfairly. I’ve read about her getting a lot of criticism for her role in Twilight, and they judge her acting solely on based off this character. While I agree that Bella in the film is a really bland character, in the first movie especially, I don’t think it is Kristen Stewart’s fault necessarily. I have always defended her as an actress because I actually think she is pretty badass. She played Joan Jett, one of my favorite musicians of all time, in the movie The Runaways and I thought she was awesome. Her role definitely had a sense of its own character that Twilight’s Bella lacked. I remember that I had also liked her in the horror film The Messengers, so the problem had to be the character itself rather than the actress.

After reading the books I was completely stumped, Bella was actually really cool. She was quirky and down to earth. She obviously felt like a bit of an outsider, I mean seriously, how many people move to a new state and start dating a vampire, but all of her standoffishness had motive. She wasn’t “umming” and “ughing” all the time like in the movie, and if she had trouble finding her words it was because she was dating a super hot vampire who was very intimidating.

So the mystery remains, why does Bella in the movie suck? I think it’s simply the fact that movies are about showing not telling, and the character was too hard to translate onto film. She wasn’t a very active character, a lot of the book was about what was in her mind, and it would have taken a very creative approach or a lot of voiceovers to really relate who she was, neither of which would have appealed to most Twihards.

So cut Kristen Stewart some slack, read the book, and watch The Runaways instead.  Better yet, hear their music and then watch the movie.

Cris

Makeup 101: Contouring

If you’re like me, facial contouring with makeup is one of those things that sounds really cool in theory, but any attempts at home left you looking like you got in a bar fight rather than you have gorgeous cheekbones.

Lucky for me, I stumbled across a Kat Von D video tutorial that looked way too easy, so I couldn’t resist giving contouring one more chance. Sure enough, I followed Kat Von D’s steps using a bronzer and blush I already had at home, and the results were a thousand times better than anything I had tried. It gave a nice definition to the face, and I think the placement of the blush is key. It doesn’t go quite on the apples, but rather just a little past them and blended into the temples. For the longest I had followed the rule of only putting blush in the very apples of the cheeks. While it looked fresh and natural in my teens, lately I’ve felt like it has made me look too flushed, so I have definitely adopted this new blush placement technique.

I thought the overall look was perfect, but perhaps a little too much for everyday use, especially since my job requires minimal makeup. However, on the days I have a little extra time or I have somewhere to go, it is one of my new go-to looks. I like to add a just a bit of powder highlighter under the brow bone and on the top of the cheek bone in a “c” shape.

Kat Von D knows what she’s doing when it comes to makeup, and she always knows how to add a bit of drama.  I’ve always really liked Kat Von D.  I think she is a great artist and reminds me quite a bit of my sister, G!

Have Fun!

Cris

Get Fit!

Emily and I really wanted to approach this as a challenge for ourselves, not as a competition with each other. Our main goal is to improve our overall health, but we are trying our own methods that fit our individual preferences and lifestyle. So here is my personal fitness challenge:

Fitness History:
Although I never played any sports in high school, I was in good shape, generally ate healthily, and worked out regularly. After moving away for college, late night eating and the ridiculous availability of delivered pizza, Chinese food, and even fresh baked cookies made it really easy to pack on extra pounds.

I noticed the weight creep up, but because of my body type, the weight was evenly distributed throughout. No one mentioned my weight gain to me and I didn’t even really notice it myself. It wasn’t until I started feeling ill very often that I went to the health center and was shocked to find that I had gained 20 pounds in less than two years! I was having a lot of of stomach aches and nausea, and would often feel like I had a brick in the center of my ribs. There were even a few times that my chest hurt so bad it felt like if someone was pushing down on my shoulders with all of their weight. I was found to have acid reflux and was prescribed medicine that I would be taking daily.

After learning what triggers acid reflux, I decided to keep a closer eye on what I put in my body. I cut down on a lot of fast food, fried food, and junk food. I picked healthier menu items and by then was living in my own apartment and was able to do my own cooking. I started adding in some workouts, and by the time I had graduated, I lost 15 of the pounds I had gained and my acid reflux was under control and no longer had to take any medicine to keep the symptoms in check. Over the next few months I lost the other five pounds and am now back at my pre-college weight.

Problem:
Along with the weight I lost went a lot of my muscle tone. Due to my hectic work schedule as an on-call medical interpreter, it is very difficult to plan a consistent work out regimen in my day so I often skip it thinking I’ll make up for it the next day. It also make its difficult to eat well since I often have to eat on the go.

Food Weakness:
Sweets, hands down. I can resist a lot of other things and am very attentive about my meal portions, but I have an almost insatiable daily craving for anything baked or chocolate. I try my best, but sometimes I give in, and some days I give in too much.

Go To Healthy Meal:
Grilled salmon just lightly seasoned with salt and pepper and topped with a splash of balsamic vinegar, parsley rice, and sauteed asparagus and mushrooms. Quick and easy, a satisfying meal in thirty minutes tops.

Fitness Goal:
I want to find a workout regimen that will be flexible enough to fit into my chaotic work schedule yet that I can commit to doing regularly. I prefer to work out at home or by doing activities as opposed to being in a gym and want to focus on exercises that will increase my flexibility and overall muscle tone. My goal is to find a regular workout I can commit to and reach my ideal level of fitness by July 1, 2013.

Get Healthy Plan:
My plan is to keep a record of what I eat just to get an idea of what my eating habits are looking like on a daily basis. In addition, I want to put in more time and prep work one day a week in order to have readily available healthy snacks and easy to cook meals, which hopefully will cut down on my last minute visits to vending machines and gas station food aisles.
As far as exercise goes, I want to incorporate at least 30 minutes of activity into my day, regardless of whether that means 45 minutes of Pilates at home or a 30 minute walk by the lake. I want to focus on creating a workout regimen that will build on stretching, yoga, Pilates, and other flexibility and strength exercises I can do from home. Once the Milwaukee cold finally leaves for good, I want to explore around the city and see what I can use to meet my activity goal.
I’ll be sure to post weekly reports and let you know what is working for me and include my favorite new recipes!

Wish me luck!
Cris

La Lupita

I’m sure by now most of you have seen or heard about all of the attention the Barbie’s Dolls of the World collection is getting, particularly the Mexico Barbie.  The dolls are supposed to be dressed in traditional outfits and carry an item that is typically associated with the culture.  The Mexico Barbie has a  long bright pink dress with ruffles and ribbon and she carries a chihuahua.

While some people are upset that the doll comes with a passport, or “documentation” as some people have called it, and others don’t agree with the choice of the chihuahua as the representative symbol that comes with her, some people just happy to have their culture represented at all.

I remember when I received  the original Mexico Barbie as a birthday present when I was a kid.  My original doll had a white dress with ruffles, roses, and ribbon and her hair was in two braids, but in reality not much has changed about Mattel’s vision of Mexican culture in the last 15 or so years.

But this isn’t really about Barbie.  Instead, I wanted to talk about a doll that actually represents the Mexican culture, and that is the handmade, hand painted Lupita from Tlaquepaque, Jalisco.  Tlaquepaque is a small town right on the out skirts of Guadalajara, one of the most well known cities in the country, it also happens to be just 2 hours from my family’s hometown in Jalisco.  Tlaquepaque is known for having a huge tianguis every Thursday.  Basically it is flea market that goes on for blocks and showcases all of the cities local handcrafts and artwork.  The streets are lined with artists who specialize in metalwork, leather, and all sorts of other cool art and trinkets.

A little off of the main street is the where you can find the place where Lupitas are made and distributed.  While these are not the plastic, flexible Barbie doll that your daughters will probably play with, they are traditional, beautiful, and unique, exactly what a doll that represents the Mexican culture should be.

These clay made dolls generally look the same, with similar skin tones and features, but their hairstyles, accessories, and clothing are all different.  Each doll is hand painted with an image that is representative of traditional Mexico, all of them bright and colorful.  The dolls carry different items including trays of sweet bread, fruits, agave, flowers, and birdcages among other things!

My mom, aunts, and sisters own a few, but until recently I had never appreciated the work that went into these small works of art.  Now that I have my own place and am starting to put some work into decorating it, I am looking forward to getting one of my own to put proudly on display.  Here are some of my favorites.

             

Cris

Saturday Surprise!

Today I had originally intended to write about the Barbie’s Dolls of the World collection that has been getting some negative feedback recently, especially the Mexico Barbie, but some shopping surprises this afternoon made me decide to postpone it until tomorrow so I could share some finds that got me excited!

After a lazy morning, I finally decided to make a run to the dollar store for some small gardening supplies that I’ve been wanting to get for weeks.  The gardening supplies were really just my excuse to go somewhere, since it’s still way too cold and too rainy to do much of anything outside.

Anyway, I was at the dollar store picking up random stuff, a hand shovel, a few flower bulbs, cotton balls, when I saw something I see every time I go to the dollar store but never pay much attention to, a tube of lipstick by the brand Aziza.  It was a shade called Seduction.  It looked very dark, although the color was hard to tell through the plastic packaging, but I’ve been wanting to try a dark lipstick for the longest and with a name like Seduction, it took about a whole two seconds to snatch up a tube.  I figured even if it was no good, at least I would get to try a dark color before committing to a more expensive choice.  I barely sat in my car when I ripped open the package, tried it on, and immediately took a picture because I knew this would end up getting posted.  The color was brown as opposed to a dark purple that I had expected, and I actually like it a lot!  It is more sheer than I thought it would be, but the color is still pretty dark and somehow looks quite natural.  The texture is a lot like the Maybelline Baby Lips line, which I’ve been obsessed with the last few weeks.  But the best part… after three hours of wear and having eaten ice cream, the color still looks almost the same as when I first put it on!  If it lasts through my yoga session you will definitely hear about it tomorrow, or tonight, depending on how excited or tired I am.  Here’s the color!

As if one awesome buy wasn’t enough to make my day, I made a trip to Target to pick up a few other things I needed, among them a bra.  I spent a few minutes looking through their selections of lacies, t-shirt bras, etc. and finally settled on a $16.99 lace overlay balconette by Gillian & O’Malley.  I picked up a few other things and expected my total to be over $30 so I was a bit confused when my total came out to $21 and some cents.  I thought that maybe I forgot to grab something I had meant to get or an item had been left by the register, so I looked at my receipt and saw that my bra had rung up as $5.08!  Score!  So what did I do?  I went back and bought a few more!

http://www.target.com/p/gilligan-o-malley-women-s-favorite-balconette-push-up-bra-assorted-colors/-/A-14308695#prodSlot=large_1_14

They have the original price on the website, but maybe you’ll come across them if you happen to be at Target.

These were two little things, but hey, sometimes it’s the small stuff. Be sure to check back tomorrow for the piece on Barbie and some truly cool handmade dolls that show what a woman that represents traditional Mexico should look like.

Cris

Get out!

So I’ll come clean, I’m the big chicken Cris was referring to yesterday. Who hasn’t been in that situation where someone catches your eye (and you’re pretty sure you caught their’s) but you suddenly find your chatty little self at a loss?

As our resident singleton, I know that sometimes it’s not even “I don’t know what to say,” but rather “Where do I even meet someone worthwhile?” that’s the root of your troubles. I’m not proposing you start joining this or that group or take up a hobby you’re not into just for the sake of meeting people. But I have found some ways that work well for meeting new potential dates (or even just friends), and my one big “no.”

Try it!

1. Recreational sports 

I’m a big soccer fan, and wherever I go I always seem to find a way join a soccer group.  Whether it’s a weekly pickup game in the park or an organized team, I’ve never had a problem making new friends on the field.  I think it’s a combination of having to work as a team with others and the casual atmosphere that makes it easy to strike up a conversation between games or on a water break.  And let’s be honest, a soccer field is never a place lacking in attractive people.  Same goes for any sport, be it basketball or even ultimate frisbee; people who hang around a sports field are generally outgoing, laid back, and confident. For me, those qualities are a must in a potential date.

2. Volunteering

Maybe you’re not into the athletics scene. All hope is not lost for you, because I’ve also had the chance to meet some unique people through a variety of volunteer activities.  Volunteering is seriously unlimited in terms of what you can do–whether you sign up to work for free behind the scenes at a concert or arts event, or choose something more charity-based.  You can gain access to events you might never attend otherwise by serving as a volunteer usher at a theatre or concert hall, or put your love of kids to use helping out with an after-school program. So why is this a good place to meet people? First, you’re more likely to meet a special someone who shares a talent or passion in common with you. Second, this person already shows that they care about a cause or people in general other than themselves, so they win points for maturity and thoughtfulness right off the bat.

3.  Hobby groups or Student clubs

When I spent 7 months in Buenos Aires, Argentina, at first I was at a loss for how to meet new people, let alone date in a new city of 12 million people. Couple the huge jump in city size with a new culture and that’s a daunting situation.  However, when I finally got the courage to attend a meeting for a student radio organization on the huge University of Buenos Aires campus, I suddenly found myself surrounded by people I shared a common interest with. If you have an interest or a hobby outside of work or sports, join a club for amateurs or students. Almost every city large and small offers community radio, community theatre, or whatever it is that strikes your fancy.  I even have a friend who joined a knitting circle at his local library. Even if you’re not a student anymore, campus groups are generally welcoming to young people or just open people in general. I guarantee your conversations with a date you meet in these groups will skip past the standard first date questions to real ideas and interests in no time.

Avoid it!

Workplace

Spending 40+ hours a week on the job, it’s natural to fall into friendships and maybe something more at work. It’s great to get along with coworkers and share more in common than the office space. However, I would personally warn against dating on the job. I’m not going to offer you the pessimistic view of “Oh, but what if you break up–that would be awkward.” Well, yeah, that would be awkward. But besides that, no matter how fascinating of lives you two may lead outside work, you are absolutely going to end up talking about work when you spend time together on dates. And for me, when I’m away from work on a date, I’m looking to talk about anything but! I love my job, but work can be stressful and it’s good to have a mental break no matter how much you love your profession.

This list is just a beginning, based on my personal experiences. I have many friends who would contradict me on the spot with great experiences dating coworkers, or even online dating. Drop me a line and let me know your go-to spots for meeting new people in your city! And if you’re a single reader like me, try these tips and let me know on Monday what kind of people you meet out there this weekend.

-Em