BEDA Dix-Huit...Nineties Nostalgia

You know what I miss?  Old Nickelodeon shows.  You know the ones.  Legends of the Hidden Temple was probably my favorite with Keenan and Kel and All That tied for a close second.  I read this article this evening, and got super nostalgic for my childhood after-school television watching experience.  90s TV, where did you go, and why have you been replaced with iCarly and Hannah Montana?!!  By the way, my mind was sufficiently blown when I discovered Marc Summers, who hosts "Unwrapped" on The Food Network (which I've seen far too many episodes of because it comes on right after Rachel Ray in the evenings and my roommate and I in Charlotte would always watch RR while making dinner), was actually the host of Double Dare.  And, when you think about the fact that he was OCD that whole time, it's kind of amazing that he was able to deal with all that slime.  But seriously...mind = blown on that count. 

But in all seriousness, I miss that good 90s television.  So much.  On summer days, I usually turn on ABC Family (you already know how obsessed I am with their current original programming...if you're not, see this post) just to catch the 2 daily episodes of Full House.  Fun fact: I've seen ever episode at least 3 times now.  Why do you think I love Make it or Break it so much?  (Hint: a lot of it has to do with Candace Cameron Bure.)  Speaking of which...last night's episode!!  And the teaser for next week!  Dying...  Also, I think they're handling Kaylie's eating disorder incredibly realistically, and I'm really glad they put the PSA about ED's at the end of the episode, as well as having links to NEDA all over the site.  It really is heartbreaking though.  And I've totally been in Austin's position before...watching a friend hurting herself, trying to talk to her about it, and feeling powerless because there's only so much power you have.  Until she decides she wants to admit she has a problem and wants to get better, there's only so much you can do as a concerned friend.  It's tough business, so I'm really happy ABC Family has chosen to feature it in a realistic way on the show, as heartbreaking as it is to watch it happen, even to a fictional character.

Mooooving on...tomorrow night, after I teach, my mom and I are going to Chicago to see Billy Elliot, the musical, and I am SUPER stoked about it.  These tickets were my mom's birthday present to me, so I've been waiting a while.  AHH can't wait!!! 

I asked my twitter followers for good blogging topics, as I am completely out of creativity, steam, as well as brain dead and all I got (from two of my dearest IUBT friends) was "twix bars," "racism," "sex before marriage," "Why men have the upper hand in controlling a relationship..or kittens," and "how different Chinese food is in America compared to China."  Um...yeah, thanks, Alex and Jordan, but no dice.  Cannot wait to see the two of them in 8 days though!!  But I am starting to have that pre-semester dread of schoolwork creeping up in the back of my head.  Like, I love my school (and I actually really love school, in general, too), but the thought of writing papers and getting back into that whole swing of things has me anxious, per usual.  Trying not to think about it, though, and just trying to enjoy my last week at home.  I really will miss it when I leave, despite my intense boredom....sometimes the solitude is nice. 

Alrighty, I'm out of steam for the evening, so I'll leave you now, my beauties.  Sweet dreams, dear blog readers.  Love, me

Currently stuck in my head: "Love the Way You Lie" by Eminem featuring Rhianna. It was seriously on, like, 3 radio stations at the same time today.  I really liked it when it was first released, but it's getting to that ohmygodi'mgoingtokilltheradioican'thearitagain stage, and that sucks.  I hate when things are overplayed.  UGHHHHH!  The video is exquisite, though.

BEDA Onze...A Quick and Early Post

Um how good do those Minnie Mouse cupcakes look?

I'm planning on getting a lot of work on my independent study class done (yeah...that plan alllllways works out...), so I'm gonna write this pretty quickly so I can get to the gym, get home, shower, and begin reading a billion pages of the New Testament (which I wouldn't normally complain about, but this class has SO. MUCH. BUSYWORK.  And I hate teaching myself).  Dear Ellen, Stop complaining. Now. Thanks.

Anywho, both Kaitlyn (on her blog) and Kristina (in her Monday video on fiveawesomegirls) said they want to visit all 50 states before they die.  I'd like to fulfill that goal as well.  I thought I, too, would count up how close I am to getting there.  Turns out, I'm not as close as I thought I was:


visited 27 states (54%)
Create your own visited map of The United States

28 is the grand total...so I still have 22 to go.  I guess my family and I haven't spent any time in the Northeast (aside from New York and Jersey), and haven't done much traveling out west, save for Arizona, Colorado, and California.  I have lived in quite a few places though.  Born in Illinois, moved to Indiana when I was 4, went to high school in Virginia, lived a year in North Carolina, a year in Oklahoma, and currently attending school back in my native Hoosierland (btw, I do not consider myself an Illinois native, as I don't remember anything about when I lived there).  I have been to Alaska, which is pretty cool.  Along with Kaitlyn, I would just love to visit all seven continents.  Unfortunately, I've still got six to go, for, as you know, I've got the biggest travel bug EVERRRR.

I guess I'll cry SPOILER ALERT, though I'm not giving much away...last night I watched Make It or Break It, and the only thought I have is WTF?  Payson kind of looks like she's falling in love with Sasha, Lauren is seriously the most jealous/insecure/awful teen girl character I've ever seen on a television show, and Ellen Biels, national committee chair, is THE biggest bitch EVER.  I was literally about to throw something at my computer screen last night...she makes me sick...discipline is important, but it does not make a great athlete or dancer.  Passion and heart and emotion and drive make greatness.  This woman is trying to turn these gymnasts into robots, all the while trying to form a gymnastics dictatorship by ousting anyone who opposes her.  jgkdlshgkdlsghkdl I hope they kick her the hell out of there soon.  My anger level is increasing by the episode.

Ok, sorry. Rant over.  The SYTYCD performance finale is on tonight!  I can't wait. I think Kent is going to win, but my vote is for Robert.  But it's probably going to be Robert 3rd, Lauren the runner-up, and Kent the winner.  And now I'll leave you all.  Much love, me.

Currently stuck in my head: "Jar of Hearts" by Christina Perri. Finally, a less embarrassing admission. That song is hauntingly sad and raw and just gjkdlghds.  So gorgeous.  The dance Kathryn and Billy did on SYTYCD to it was breathtaking.  WATCH!

BEDA Sept...Guilty Pleasures

Instead of another boring, rambly, angsty post, I think I'm going to list my guilty pleasures.  You know, those things that we all love that we'd probably rather not admit to anyone.

1. Driving my car on summer days, windows and sunroof open, blaring some obnoxious, overplayed summer anthem on the radio.  And, of course, singing and dancing along to it.  And hoping the drivers of other cars don't think I'm a serious lunatic.

2. ABC Family original series.  Don't hate me.  Currently, I won't miss an episode of Make it or Break it or Pretty Little Liars.  When it's on (new episodes starting soon, hopefully) GREEK (I know, I know...I'm a sorority girl who watches a show about sorority girls...it's incredibly exaggerated and Greek life really isn't like that, but there are aspects of truth there and I think it's hilarious.  The annoying bits of the show are like the things that annoy me about my own sorority, so it makes me giggle).  I used to be an avid fan of both Wildfire and Kyle XY, before they were both canceled, that is.  I know...so embarrassing.

3. Old Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen movies.  It Takes Two, Passport to Paris, Billboard Dad, etc., etc.  Please don't judge.

4. The O.C. and Gossip Girl...apparently I like teen dramas about rich kids...whatever... 

5. The Food Network. Giada, Ina, and Paula are my favorites.

6. This goes along with the whole Make it or Break it thing, but anything having to do with gymnastics or figure skating.  I did gymnastics for a total of one year when I was six and have never figure skated, but I'm obsessed.  No clue why.

7. Peanut butter. I used to carry a jar around in my purse everywhere I went.

8. Splenda...I know...so bad for you.  But so good.  And no calories.

9. Center Stage.  Yes, that ridiculously popular movie about a bunch of kids who go to the American Ballet Academy.  It is horrendously exaggerated, not really based on any facts, and totally unrealistic.  But it is also the movie that I've probably seen more than any other (even any of the HP films), and I could easily quote the whole thing for you.  And the one-liners in it.  "So the elephant goes 'ow, ow' and the mouse goes 'take it all, bitch." "I am the best goddamn dancer in the American Ballet Academy. Who the hell are you? NOBODY." "What a prick." "He was perfectly nice about it." "Being nice when you're saying something pricky is even prickier." "Careful with that one. You break it, you bought it." "Oh, please...she's a heartbeat away from tatooing your name on her ass." And the always cliche "Whatever you feel...just dance it."  Plus, the soundtrack...it's ridiculous and amazing.  By the way, the whole thing is on youtube in parts if you've never seen it.  I feel like everyone needs to watch.

10. Kraft Macaroni and Cheese.  I am a pretty healthy eater.  I try to eat as many unprocessed things as I can.  But there is just something amazing about that blue box and that neon-colored powdered cheese.  So yummy.

11. Bold red wines (big cabernets, smooth merlots, and malbecs). I'm not apologizing for this one.

12. The World Cup.  Not really apologizing for this one either.  The soccer boys.  And the internationality of it all.  Amazing.

13. Josh Groban.  Yeah...

14. Celine Dion.  I don't even know...

15. Looking through old photo albums and scrapbooks.  I do this more than I would care to admit.  I'm not sure why.  It's kind of a sad happiness it gives me...nostalgia is weird.

16. 1970s folk music a la Dan Fogelberg and Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young.  Blame my mother.  My favorite Fogelberg song is this.  Wonder why, haha.

17. Days where I don't have to get out of my pajamas.  Always a welcome respite.

18. Decoupaging and knitting.  I haven't done either in a while, but there is something calming about old ladyish arts and crafts.

19. Chik-fil-A.  If you've never had it, you're missing out.

20. High School Musical. In all its forms. I'm not even going to try to justify that one.

That's enough for right now.  Hope ya'll enjoyed that.  Tell me your guilty pleasures in the comments...please!!!  Also, one more thought...I'm considering vlogging again.  Your thoughts?

Currently stuck in my head: "We're Dancing" by PYT...because I just watched, like, five Center Stage youtube videos utilizing the final song from the movie.  *headdesk*

Countdown to Spring Break

Over the last two weeks, it has gone to beyond freezing to nearly 50 degrees...today I woke up and the sun was out :) That's about the only really good news I have to report.  The last couple of weeks have been a blur of lack of rehearsal for Serenade (the most we've had was an hour and a half on Tuesday), nearly passing out in my voice lesson this past week (yes, really), studying my ass off for midterms (thank God they're over), and occasionally going out in between.  Soooo ready for spring break.

I'm currently praying for peace and clarity and to stop worrying and over-analyzing.  I don't care to go into the details, but I struggle all the time with trying to analyze and re-analyze all the time and blaming myself when things don't work out.  I fault myself all. the. time.  And it's stupid and unnecessary, but I do it, and I don't know how to stop.  I think it is because I grew up in ballet--constantly in front of a mirror, being told what's wrong, what to correct, nutrition seminar after nutrition seminar, and always being told you're not good enough.  I need to stop blaming myself or thinking that it's something I did wrong...because I know it's not...but my brain refuses to acknowledge that.  Anyway, enough depressingness...

This year for spring break, I'll be taking a bus down to Biloxi, Mississippi with a campus organization called Y'ALL (Youth Advocating Leadership and Learning) to build houses and reach out to the still ravaged gulf coast.  I originally wanted to go with Habitat, but by the time I got my stuff together, all their trips were filled up.  I've been dying to go on an Alternative Spring Break since I found out what they were a few years ago.  Now, I'll admit that going to Mississippi isn't as cool as going to some place like Costa Rica or Africa (though I'm hoping to get there eventually), but I'm so pumped.  I was given a desire to serve, and I couldn't be more excited.  The only scary thing is that I know absolutely NO ONE.  Not a soul.  I know it will be great, but the uneasiness of not even having one single familiar face with you is a bit nerve-wracking.  But I'm pumped.  We leave Sunday the 14th.

I want to go shopping.  I haven't been hardcore shopping since Christmas break, and I feel like it's definitely time for a day at Nordstrom and Bloomingdale's with good friends and a credit card.  Hello, compulsive retail therapy.

In order to fill the void that has been left in my heart since the Olympics ended (beyond depressed that Bob Costas no longer dominates my television), I've been watching too much trashy television.  My friend Becca got me hooked on The Real Housewives (Orange County and NYC), and I'm ashamed to say I'm a little addicted.  These women are ridiculous and act like they're stuck in high school.  Hilarious.  I'm also obsessed with GREEK and Make It or Break It.  I know, right?  But seriously, GREEK is soooo entertaining and it's hilarious to see aspects of my school's greek system, while exaggerated, played out on TV.  And Make It or Break It is kind of like art-imitating-life for me.  I mean, I know I'm not headed for London 2012 (it can't come soon enough by the way), but the things the gymnasts go through are very similar to what I've experienced as a dancer--pressure to be perfect, lack of friends outside the studio/gym, etc.  I mean, of course it's horribly melodramatic and way overdone, but I love it nonetheless.  Also, I'm so glad The Bachelor is over so I can have my Monday night back.  Dear Jake, I'm pretty sure you picked Vienna for lust, but whatever.  You'll regret it in about a year when she's still acting like she's 20 and you're almost in your mid-30s.  Love, Ellen

That's enough for now...hopefully I'll be updating this thing more regularly...it's been a while, but I've been swamped.