6 Days and Counting...

Until Lost – it’s all I can think about…well not really.

I’m also shamelessly addicted to a lot of bad reality TV shows that are totally mindless and do nothing for you but I enjoy watching them – like The Bachelor. Every Monday night I get really excited to watch it – as cheesy as that is. I think it’s because I get really embarrassed for the people on TV but can’t turn my eyes away. The totally predictable drama and over dramatic music is just amazing! I’m pulling for Tenley or Allie, definitely not Vienna!

In honor of Snookie and reality TV watch the infamous punch in a silly remake involving puppies!

Consumers Want Happiness

I came across an article today talking about the new Coca-Cola happiness campaign and I like it! With everyone going viral and the need to reach a younger demographic on multiple mediums it can be tough to get it right. I think Coke has it right this time.

Check out the video below. Coca-Cola launched their happiness-themed campaign at the beginning of this year by sending 3 bloggers around the world to capture happiness (check the expedition out here). You can read the full article from Marketing Vox here, but below is a piece of the article that explains the rationale behind the campaign.

"It's not about having the Coca-Cola brand first and foremost, center of the screen,” said Adam Brown, director of Coca-Cola’s Office of Digital Communications and Social Media, in an interview with the Associated Press. “It’s about telling the story that involves Coca-Cola, that involves the attributes of what Coca-Cola is about, optimism and joy.”

That's exactly why I like it. It makes you laugh, I could imagine myself cracking up if I were there, it's surprising and while Coke is a big part of this it's not screaming Coke the whole time! Good viral video of the week.

When Bored...

You could always Facebook Stalk. Everyone does it, by joining you open yourself up to be stalked and then you chat about the craziness later with your closest friends. I came across this Bingo chart on HolyTaco.com that made me laugh. The only thing missing is "When engaged all they talk about for next year is wedding" - I know a chick doing that now and she is about to get defriended, enough with the about to go from Miss to Mrs. and Husband to Be - guess what, I get it, I don't care enough already!

2010 Is All About Me!

So a few of my blogs have featured some workouts, thoughts or things I've been doing to better myself. I was talking with a friend the other day about things we wanted to accomplish this year and came to the conclusion that 2010 is all about me!

It sounds selfish and it is, but in a good way. Not in a way like I'm going to keep all the cookies to myself sort of way. I mean 2010 is all about me and bettering me! Everyone has imperfections and can never be perfect, but bettering myself in certain ways can only make me feel better about myself.

I've been practicing positive thinking and trying to look at the good things not the bad things and it seems to be helping. I've been trying to make little goals and accomplish them and of course give myself a reward for doing this. (I must admit that I did get this from The Spark, a book by SparkPeople.com, whom I work for). But I'm not going to lie it's working, just check out the shoes in this blog I got for completing the push up challenge.

So, each month or so I'm going to try to do something to better myself - whether that is physically, mentally, emotionally or spiritually. Sometimes things may cross into other months or etc. but it's all about bettering me! Making myself healthy all around!

Things on my list right now:

1. Not letting what others think get me down - this is going to be tough because I kind of worry about what others think too much and shouldn't. I know the people around me love me and who cares if I don't always make them happy. I'm going to do what I want (note: I care about others feelings and consequences at the same time, just talking the small stuff - shall I say don't sweat the small stuff)


2. Complete the 200 sit up challenge - Just because I liked having the push up challenge and strengthening areas of my body that are weak.


3. Widdle My Middle 30 Day Challenge - 2 days in and testing the theory. I'm taking measurements and pictures, so 30 days from now I will let you know the results. Why do this one? Cause everyone hates their midriff unless you are Jillian Michaels.


4. Live love in the moment -Ok, that sounds weird and odd. This is a tough one to put on her cause I don't like to share my lovey feelings out loud often but I owe it to myself. Basically, live in the moment of love and where it stands, trust it. I have some of the best times in front of me for love to grow.

Best part about putting these out here is the reward and aftermath of accomplishing them. Completing one just makes me want to set another and keep going...a positive spiral. Plus, at the end of some I get great rewards like shoes and dresses. And the reward for others can last a lifetime. I've come to find once I make the change I want to stick with it...like I will now do push ups more often cause I like the results - the work was well worth it.

So, my theme of the year 2010 is all about me!

Challenge Complete

I did it! Today I completed the 100 hundred push up challenge I started a few blogs back! It was extremely difficult but I am glad it is done...onto our next challenge, the 200 sit up challenge.

I've had a few questions about the challenge so I'm just going to bullet them below:

• Yes, we did do girl style push ups (on our knees) but that does not make the challenge less challenging by any means
• Yes, it was one hundred straight. I did have to readjust every once in awhile and my knees slid out and my form broke, but it was one hundred straight
• The program says 6 weeks training, by no means was I ready at 6 weeks. It took me 9 weeks, but I also had to do push ups on Christmas morning and New Years Day- NY Day was by far the worst ever
• I do not feel as though my arms benefited, but it's hard to tell because it's my body - I will resort to someone else to answer this question.
• I do feel my upper abs benefited, those hurt just as bad as my arms afterwards
• My chest felt it the most. It's stronger and I can pump more iron in my body pump class without tiring
• It absolutely killed my wrist. I hate wrist, they freak me out, they are boney and just too tiny for words. It hurt for hours after each big set - something I won't miss.
• Yes - I plan to continue keeping up with push up - not 100, but I like the results they gave me and woke me up mid afternoon.

YES I AM GLAD IT IT OVER!

A Prank Gone Right

Remember when we were kids and prank calling people was like the #1 priority for a slumber party. All the typical “is your refrigerator running,” “You’ve won a million dollars” and “Hi, is Ivanna Tinkle home?” It was so much fun and the risk associated with it was enough to get your adrenaline pumping even more after all those chocolate sundaes and teeny bopper magazines.

Then the telephone companies had to go and ruin it all with *67 (hello 1990s) and then with the caller ID. Making a prank call these days is virtually impossible. Unless you are really sly and have money to waste and continue to buy pre-paid phones so your number changes everytime – geez folks, get with it. Now that I’m older I love caller ID, I decide when, if and who I want to talk to – screen away (don’t lie, you all do it)! But as a kid, this must just totally suck!

Well, I found this article about a New Year prank that has been going on for years with a surprising ending. For some reason I found the story cute and touching, maybe it’s because I have a soft heart for older men and the man in this video is too cute. You can read the full article here, but the gist is below and the video goes with it.

A young lad and his sister decide to prank call one evening back in 1973. The man on the receiving end is actually pretty nice and understanding and simply says after several calls, “I’m about to eat dinner with my wife, can you call back later?” The kid replies, “sure, next year.” And there you have it, the tradition starts and continues for 30 years.

Now, 46 the prankster decides to pay a visit to the man he calls every NYE that all started with a prank call. They have become friends and the video captures their first meeting. It’s very heart warming. So enjoy!

Sincerely,
Guest Write Seymour Butz

 

It's My Party and I'll Cry If I Want To!

Did anyone else feel that way this morning when the alarm went off? After having practically two weeks off work and nothing to do except open gifts and party this morning was a rude awakening!

I guess it's time to get back into the swing of things. A good way to look at it is that we are now looking forward to Spring, not the Holidays. It's also time to not eat out, eat appetizers and consume large amounts of alcohol for multiple days in a row - I'm looking forward to that. I won't lie though, my workout today was pretty difficult, and those 190 push ups were awful.

My NYE was pretty awesome. I was in Gatlinburg with 14 people and we hung out there and literally did nothing but games, eating, drinking, chatting and a lot of dancing! See the pictures of the girls doing our NYE shots and then our after faces. It was good to play games, hang out, not have to drive anywhere and worry about taxis and just enjoy each other's company.

To be in the New Year spirit I'm listing my Resolution/Goals for 2010 in this blog so they are official! Let's see if I can do it.

1. Complete the 100 push challenge

2. Run Chili outside at least 3 times per week

3. Learn more about my financial future and understand how it all works (stocks - clueless)

4. Actually eat leftovers (I mean I always save them but hardly eat them)

5. Lose 5 pounds

6. Complete the 200 sit up challenge
7. Don't sweat the small stuff and things I can't control

Some of these will be easy to accomplish and others will be difficult. I'm proud to say for the first time in a long time biting my nails is not on this list. I had that on there last year and I have finally kicked the habit. I occasionally pick or bite but nothing like before where it looked like a pencil sharpener was taken to my fingers. I'm proud of this little accomplishment!