You gotta love Rihanna

I just saw Rihanna's new video "Rehab" and it's pretty great. First, the style is amazing. The clothes she wears are so sexy. She's definitely one of today's best style icons. Aside from the fabulous clothes, can we say "Hello Justin!" Now, I find Mr. Timberlake quite attractive on his own, but in this video he takes on a submissive role that not only screams Girl Power, but makes him even hotter. And somehow Rihanna pulls it off without looking skanky or dominating. She's the one pursuing, while still being uber feminine. Very nice music video.

Pretty Necklace

So, I tried my hand at something new and I'm very pleased with the way it turned out...

I just love the look of these necklaces. I had a lot of fun making them. They're quite versatile too, since you can wear the bow in the front or the back and adjust the length with the size of the bow. They're even cute as bracelets.

Who knows, maybe I'll start selling them. Make my millions off necklaces.

I'm an emotional eater

And I think I've been in denial about it. I just had the longest week that concluded with a really crappy day! I registered for classes today and two crucial classes I needed were completely full. This could set me back an entire semester! So, I'm fairly upset. And how do I deal with it? Well, after almost two weeks of eating rather healthy and exercise very regularly, I get Mat to buy cheeseburgers! And they weren't even good and kinda made me sick! I've never really thought of myself as an emotional eater. But I think I am. I had this helpless feeling after I registered for classes I didn't want and just thought to myself "Screw it!" Not a good attitude about food, for one. And as I thought about it, I do that more often than I probably should. It like I eat things I know are bad for me in order to reward myself for putting up with bad things. As a way of almost cheering myself up. And boy does it work. I usually feel sick afterward and always feel guilty. It's kind of funny how the mind works. All I can do now is try to move on, I guess. And vow to do better tomorrow... I'm still pissed about my classes though!!

Please, Don't Forget To Vote!!!

Next Tuesday is the day. And I truly hope everyone is already registered and planning to vote in the upcoming election. I found some statistics that really made me sad. According to life.familyeducation.com only 54 percent of eligible voters cast their ballots during the last four decades of presidential elections. Compare that embarrassing number to Italy's 90 percent, Germany's 80 percent, France and Canada's 76 percent, Britain's 75 percent and Japan's 71 percent. We rank 35th in voter turnout out of the world's prominent democracies. If that doesn't make you feel a little ashamed, I don't know what will. And, honestly, I'm not sure what causes the feeling of indifference towards voting. Sure, sometimes I can feel like my vote really won't matter, but more and more people are feeling that way. This is supposed to be a strong, proud country. We need to end the apathy. In my opinion, you have no right to complain about how the country, state, county or city are being run unless you participated in the democratic process. If you aren't well informed and involved with bettering your community, how can you just sit there and complain about what's going on? I'm not trying to wag my finger at anyone, I'm just trying to light a fire under a few butts. This is serious stuff. Whether you're a Democrat, Republican or anything in between, we need to care enough about our country to really do something. This country was built on the idea that every person would have a say in how things were run. We just can't forget that.

Stylista?

Really? It seems to me that someone had a light switch turn on in their brain as they watched 'The Devil Wears Prada' a few years ago. Anne Slowey, though a very talented and successful person, seemed completely fake. From her perma-snarl on her face to the awful way she tromped in her heels, it seemed like a complete act. And if it's not, well that's even more sad. The premise intrigues me. Though I'm starting to get a little tired of reality shows (ANTM is just getting sad) the idea of working for a magazine like Elle is very exhilarating. So, I know that despite the petty fights these people will get into (does no one ever grow up?) I will be watching every Wednesday night if for no other reason than to get a peek into the world I would love to live in one day.

Follow-up: My Bipolar Body Image

So, after hearing that basically everyone suffers from "Agh, is that me?!?" syndrome when they see themselves in pictures, I went back to look at some of mine and I decided it was the way I'm posed that makes me look 30 pounds heavier than I feel. So, I decided I'd check the Internet for tips on how to look good in pictures. Though I'm not sure they'd all work for impromptu pictures, if you get used to them, they could become second nature.

• Always turn partially sideways with your weight on your back foot.
• To minimize appearance of a double chin, pull head slightly forward and press your tongue to the roof of your mouth.
• Watch your posture! Pull shoulders back, chest up, and there's no shame is sucking in, but only a little. You don't want it to look like you were sucking in.
• Use items you're holding to camouflage areas on your body you're self conscious about. Like holding your purse in front of your stomach.
• Hold arms just slightly away from your body to keep the upper arm from looking flabby. But don't look like you're about to fly away.
• If you're planning a photo, opt for a monochromatic look. One color from head to toe is always slimming, even if it's not black, though darks are better at this than lights.
• Invest in some Spanx. I don't think there's a woman out there that couldn't benefit from some Spanx!
• Finally, to get a fresh, natural looking smile, look away from the camera, then turn towards it and smile just before it takes the shot. This is not easy, and takes some practice to master

I'm sure it would take some practice to master these. And if you're going to practice, do it behind closed doors so you don't look like a crazy person. Really, though, pictures aren't about looking back and thinking, "Mmmm, smokin'!" They're for memories. Remembering a great experience you had. So, I guess just stop stressing and smile. It's better than not having a picture at all.

Sources: http://beauty.about.com/od/hairstylephotogalleries/qt/photopose.htm

The Ghost of Halloweens Past

Growing up, Halloween was one of the greatest holidays. Not only was it great to dress up, but trick-or-treating was one of the most enjoyable traditions out there. Back when you'd get all dressed up and, with supervision of course, you walk around your neighborhood door-to-door, ringing doorbells and yelling trick or treat with such thrill that you barely noticed the terrible cold (Utah+October=FREEZING!!). But this tradition is fast becoming nothing more than a memory. First, it moved from door-to-door to trunk-r-treat. This may have been a Utah thing as it centered around the Mormon church. The members would get together in the parking lot and kids would go from trunk to trunk collecting candy. Though this still kept the essence of trick-or-treating, it lacked any real threat of the trick and the event went more quickly than the door-to-door method. Then our little town also tried what we called BooFest, where the local businesses on downtown would give out candy to trick-or-treaters. Sadly, both of these traditions have faded and it's simply not safe to go around trick-or-treating anymore, even in our little town. In my opinion the only solution to this is to throw a party. Whether it is simply a family party, or a neighborhood block party, it's really the only route to go anymore. Adults have been having costume parties for years now, but I'm more worried about the kids. But there are so many websites out there giving ideas for Halloween parties, the work is almost done for you. Costume contests are almost necessary, because we don't want to lose the importance of dressing up. And the food is always key, with cauldrons full bubbling over with dry ice, and a menu with spooky names. Or, for slightly older kids, create a haunted house. I loved doing this when I was younger. You could do it in a garage or use laundry line and put up partitions in the back yard. Do it just for the family, or invite the whole neighborhood over. Also, check out this article for some other great and easy alternatives to trick-or-treating, it had the best info I've found. We can't let Halloween die. Just because we can't safely send our kids out trick-or-treating doesn't mean Halloween can't be just as fantastic, if not better. Just don't forget to tell your kids what Halloween used to be like.

I'm starting to get concerned

So, I was cleaning my bathroom today and as I was sweeping, I noticed something. There was a ton of my hair on the floor. It looked like I was sweeping up at a salon. I'm worried that I'm losing too much hair. I Googled it and found out that it's normal to lose about 100 to 200 strands per day, but this doesn't really help me, since I'm not counting my hair every day. Every time I do my hair in the morning, the bathroom is covered in hair. And not just full strands, but lost of little broken strands. And when I take a shower, it seems like there is a ton that falls out. I'm starting to think I've over processed it in the last six months or so. But, I can't go without blowdrying and straightening my hair. It's just not an option. And I don't have to keep dying it, but I know I will, cause this color is just not pretty when it fades. So, I'm not sure what to do. I just hope I don't go completely bald.

Card-making

My sister has informed me that I do not blog often enough. So I decided to blog about what I did today. Kristine came up today, and we threw together some cards, cause we were both out. Here's a few of my favorite.

Experiences...

We had an interesting assignment in one of my classes a little while ago to write down ten experiences or adventures we'd like to have in our lives. I really liked the assignment, so I decided to list my ten here. Some of them are very simple, while others may take me a few years. They're not in any particular order, and I'm sure this list will be changed and added to as time goes on, but it's still fun to think about. As mom always taught, life really isn't about the things you acquire, but the experiences you attain...

1. Live in New York City: This one is actually my number one, though I'm not sure when it will happen...

2. Learn French: I've always wanted to be bilingual. Honestly, I'd also like to learn Spanish and Italian as well.

3. Try sushi: Like I said, some of these won't take much effort.

4. Write a book and get it published: Don't ask me the subject, cause I don't know.

5. Run/Complete a 5K: Walking a 5K would probably kill me at this point, but it's good to be ambitious.

6. Visit Europe: Well, western Europe anyway; Spain, France, Italy, England, Ireland, etc.

7. Road trip the old Route 66: I've always thought a road trip would be fun, and Route 66 has to be the most famous.

8. Learn to paint: Watercolor is actually what I'm most interested in, though oil painting would obviously be cool, too.

9. Master yoga: Yoga is hard! Way harder than I expected.

10. Go on a safari: A real one, I really want to touch an elephant. It would just be great to see those animals in their habitat.

Some of these are a little short-sighted. But, I guess that way as I cross them off my list, I can add more to them. I'm sure I'll wake up in the middle of the night thinking "Crap! That should have made it on my list!" but oh well. This is my list as of right now. To me, these are more important that owning a new car, or buying that big new house (or loft, for someone like myself). Besides, those things seem to be getting harder and harder to acquire. But there's nothing stopping me from training for a 5K, or writing a book, for that matter. What would be on your list?

Blink and you'll miss it

As Kristine pointed out in one of her posts, the changing of the seasons in Utah can be truly spectacular. My favorite part of driving to Logan the past couple of weeks has been fall colors on the mountain sides. So, needless to say, I was a little let down when I made that drive on Tuesday to find the change was basically over. The only colors were the green pine trees and the brown of the branches and hills. It struck me that while fall is probably my favorite season, it may just be the shortest one in Utah. We are expecting snow on the valley floors this weekend. So, for those of you who may have missed the season change, check out Kristine's post on her blog 'I'll go if I don't have to talk' (she's on my blog list). Otherwise, you'll just have to try to catch the magic next year. Winter, here we come.

My Bipolar Body Image

Ok, you know how they say people who suffer from anorexia or bulimia have a skewed body image. So that if they look in the mirror, they don't see what they really look like, they see someone who is fat. Well, I'm pretty sure I have the opposite problem. And yes, I say problem, because it's still a skewed image. When I look in the mirror some days I see someone who, while being a little overly voluptuous, really isn't too bad. Then I see myself in pictures, and it makes me wonder how off the image in my head is. Again, I'm not looking for any "oh, Becky, but you're beautiful" or "you're not fat", I'm just relaying an interesting thing I've noticed about myself. I don't want reassurance, I'm more interested to hear if this has ever happened to anyone else. And after I have seen myself in a picture or gone clothes shopping (a hell in it's own right) I go the other way and every time I look in the mirror, I see something I'm not so happy with. On those days, all I can focus on is how bloated I feel or how uncomfortable my clothes are. Is this too depressing, because I really don't mean it that way. I see it more as an phenomenon of the female psyche. And I must say, it makes getting ready in the morning a real bitch!

Ugh, so close!

But no weight loss this week. :-( I'm blaming it on being bloated for the week, will that count? Guess I just need to step it up!

Salt Lake City Farmers Market

I have lived in Utah for 22 years now. I've been going down to Salt Lake City for entertainment for the last five. And last Saturday, the 27th, I went to the Farmers Market for the first time. It's something I've wanted to check out for a little while, and I finally got the chance. I must say, I was impressed. Held at Pioneer Park, all sorts of local vendors set up booths and offer an array of fruits, vegetables and handmade goods. Going a little later in the year, I was worried that it might not be as big as even a month or two earlier in the year. But I was so very wrong. There were great heirloom tomatoes, squash off all sorts, herbs, melons, giant peaches. They even had fresh beef, seafood and cheeses, as well as a huge selection of baked goods. Being a carb-loving girl, I was truly in paradise. But beyond food there were plenty of hand-made crafts and goods ranging from soaps to yard ornaments to jewelry. I got there right at 8:00 am when they all open and it was already getting busy. It took me about an hour and a half to walk all the way around. And if there's one bit of advice I could offer to those interested in checking it out, it's this. Don't eat breakfast first! Not only are there a number of local and unique food venders (think falafels and tapas) as well as those fresh pastries, but there are free samples almost everywhere you turn. This is definitely near the top of my list of things I love about Salt Lake City!

Celebrity Sighting!!!!!

I could not have picked a better day to be at the Gateway! Some of you may know that I am a huge So You Think You Can Dance fan. Huge! The SYTYCD tour was in town Monday for the Salt Lake City, and while I was walking the mall, I was lucky enough to meet four of the girls from the show. First, I "bumped" into Chelsie Hightower (18) and Comfort Fedoke (20) at the Panda Express in the food court. Then I saw Kherington Payne (18) and Chelsea Traille (23) in the Wetseal.

I felt like a fourteen-year-old, smiling and giggling. I'm pretty sure my sentences were coherent, but I can't be sure. I must have looked like a complete geek to them. They were all so sweet, though. They had no problem posing for a couple pictures, and they all seemed very genuine and real. Especially Kherington, who asked me my name and talk to me for a minute. And they are all just as gorgeous in person as they are on television. It was definitely the most exciting thing that's happened to me in a while. If you haven't seen any of the dances, you've gotta check out Kherington's Contemporary routine with Twitch and Chelsie's Hip-Hop routine with Mark. Phenomenal! For Real!

Another pound

Yes, I've lost another pound. Slowly but surely, I will lose this weight.

That's one small step for man,

And one giant leap for the LDS church. I have never been more proud to be a member (some may argue not a very good member, but that's neither here nor there). The LDS church made a statement supporting Gov. Jon Hunstman's push to eliminate the membership requirements in private clubs. You can read the full article in the Deseret News, but basically the church says they can agree on laws that "allow individual freedom of choice." Hmmm, that sounds a lot like free agency to me, but whatever. In a state that is, in actuality, only a bit more than half LDS (sltrib.com), I see it as a good thing for the church to support our lawmakers, even if those laws aren't directly in line with the standards of the Church. And I think it has a lot to say about the members, as well. Perhaps we don't need our collective hands held at every road we have to cross. Maybe, just maybe, being a part of the LDS religion means that we can hold standards that don't need to be echoed by those who may not believe the same things. Of course, I think we can all agree that being responsible when you drink is of the utmost importance. But if Mormons can choose not to drink, can't those who aren't Mormons choose to drink. So I say kudos to the Church, for trusting it's members, and making life in Utah a little more cohesive.

I think I'm in love!

You know that friend you've had forever. The one that you may not have thought was that attractive but has always been there for you? Did you ever find yourself looking at them one day in a whole new light? Well, that's what's been happening to me. I think I'm falling in love with Salt Lake City. It kind of crept up on me. The more I visit, the more I find things and places that I never knew existed. And I'm loving it! A big turning point in our relationship happened tonight at the Fashion Stroll on Broadway between 200 East and 300 East. Some of you may know of my love (read: obsession) with fashion. And I've always been under the impression that there was no real fashion base in Utah. I believe I was wrong. The Fashion Stroll was put together by Matt Monson who owns the boutique model.citizen, which offers men and women's clothing by local designers. It happens twice a year, Fall and Spring, for local designers and boutiques to come together as part of a street festival that features live music, fashion shows, and lots of great people. It was eye opening. As I walked down Broadway surrounded by designers, antique stores, clothes and some very stylish people, I got that feeling you get when you catch a really cute guy looking at you. Exhilarated and empowered. It was unlike anything I would expect from Salt Lake City. It made Salt Lake City feel like the popular urban areas I've always dreamed of living in. It seems my dream may have just gotten a little closer.

One down...

Only fifty-some-odd to go. I lost a pound last week. I'm trying to celebrate every little victory, otherwise it's depressing. One pound may not seem like a lot, but look at these pictures...

Ewww! That is just gross. It also makes me feel pretty good having that much less fat on my body. I've also heard it equated to a bag of M&Ms. Putting it in this perspective just makes it feel like a much more significant victory. So, hopefully I can keep it up...

Lazy dressers!

What has happened to society in the last decade? I remember when I was in highschool (about six years ago) this whole wearing-pajamas-like-they're-real-clothes thing was just starting. Girls would come to school fully dressed, and wear their fuzzy slippers. Or they'd come in cute pajama pants. I never thought it would spread to a full-on lifestyle choice. Now, whenever I go out, where ever I go, I see both men and women looking like they just rolled out of bed. And not that sexy bed-head/bedroom eyes thing. I mean sweats, oversize shirts, dirty tank tops, hair that hasn't seen a brush (or a shower for that matter) in days. I don't understand. If leaving the house and facing the real world doesn't warrant getting ready in the morning, then what does? Like those old women I've seen in the grocery store with the rollers in their hair. If you're not getting your hair done to be seen in the world, then what are you getting it done for? I've always been a fan of the casual look. There's nothing better in this world than a good pair of jeans. But I can't help but think we've gotten too casual, too lax, in the way we dress. It's to the point now that when I see a woman in a pair of heels at the mall, I think, what are you dressed up for? Does anyone else find this sad. Don't we have enough respect for ourselves to take the 15 minutes required to brush out your hair and put on a little mascara or, heaven forbid, shower on a regular basis. Seriously, what is up with the "I haven't showered in a week" look? It doesn't take much too make an effort. Does it?