Maybe one more time?

Tomorrow is judgment day: Can Britney Spears make a comeback?

On Tuesday 10/30 her fourth album will be released; after four years of marriages, divorce, kids, rehab, head-shaving, VMA-bombing, court dates, and various other front -page behaviors. Can she pull it off at least “one more time”?

According to the US Today article, her single Gimme More has sold 527,000 copies in only four weeks. Pretty impressive Ms. Spears! It hasn’t quite “topped the charts” (peaking at No. 17 on the top 4o), but it has become popular among it’s target audience and our recent weekend experiences have revealed that the song is well on it’s way to being among the dance-floor hits.

Her VMA performance is not one that any of us wish to experience again, but it served it’s purpose to market the new single and get her name back into the music rumor mill (as if she has to try hard to do that).

I like it. I’ll dance to it. I’ll download it.

Will I buy the album? Not likely. But to be fair, I can’t even remember the last time I purchased a CD. iTunes Store, that’s where I’m at.

Either way, as a member of the former Britney/Christina/N’Sync/Backstreet Boys/pop-crazed generation…I’m curious to see how this one turns out.

“When somebody hands me a flier

it’s like they’re saying, ‘Here, you throw this away’.”
-Mitch Hedberg

One of my favorite quotes by the late Mitch Hedberg.

Most of us have experienced this feeling. On a college campus, there are always people recruiting for something, wanting you to donate or participate in this and that. Not necessarily a bad thing, but there is a lot of paper wasted on these little fliers that spend the majority of their existence being trampled to pieces or accumulating in the nearest trash can.

I am not good at being that person. I hate shoving that flier into an unwilling taker’s hands. I try to smile-and-say-”It’s okay, Thanks anyway!” when you get the usual, “No, thanks” or just being flat out ignored. Aghhhh. Actually, I just hate to give the information that I have on to somebody who will, in all honesty, just throw it away as soon as they are out of my peripheral vision.

I have nothing against those of you who have done this, and even include myself in the group. I simply felt the need to comment on this behavior. After 10 minutes of standing in the student union center and placing fliers into the hands of some interested/mostly uninterested students…I observed some interesting things. People will begin to slowly change their steps so that when they pass you, they’ll be about 5 feet from you as opposed to an arm’s distance (prime opportunity for flier-to-hand exchange). They attempt anything to avoid eye contact; look at ipod and pretend to change song, talk on the phone, pretend to be intently staring at something ahead, pick up the pace, pass this person and do Not get a flier!!! Passing empty handed=Mission Accomplished.

Every once in a while I look at down at what has been thrust into my hand and find valuable information. Something I was not aware of and am genuinely interested in. Every once in a while, when I thrust the information I’m sharing into the hands of an innocent passer, I hope that they are enticed and genuinely interested in what I have given them.

I’ll never be the type of person who feels comfortable approaching anybody who walks by and have them signing up for something five minutes later. I’m okay with that.

However, I work for Disney.

When it comes to Disney, I have to say I can be pretty convincing. Get me talking and I could go on and on. Forget the flier and the informational brochure. Take the Mickey sticker ( you know it makes you smile!), watch the video that still gives me goosebumps every time, ask me anything and everything, and you decide for yourself. Experience the Magic.

Ok, I admit that…

……

I did my own laundry for the first time as a freshman, in college.

I can’t locate Yemen on a map.

I don’t know the capitals of all 50 states.

I probably chew gum too much.

I will always love Disney World, no matter how old I am.

I’m kind of a science nerd.

I never leave Target without a purchase.

I wish my sister and I were actually twins.

I get bored by the end of the football game.

I am definitely a neat freak.

I still know all the words to N’Sync songs (and to that I should probably add Christina, Britney, Spice girls….).

I am a dork. I own it.

I don’t care what the temperature is as long as the SUN is out.

I am a facebook stalker, on occasion.

I don’t know if I’m ready for a “real” job…..ehhh.

I have read all of the Harry Potter books (some more than once…).

I don’t get sick of watching “You’ve Got Mail”, and probably know every line.

I hate the movie “A Christmas Story”.

I secretly aspire to be a chef.

I consider “Angus, Thongs, and Full-frontal Snogging” the funniest book ever written. Ever.

I never know when to use who/whom.

I probably eat too much candy. Reese’s and “gummies” are my faves.

I laugh at a joke while I’m still trying to “get it” in my head.

I tend to tell stories more than once (not on purpose!).

I am somewhat of a bookworm. A good book is satisfying.

I never want to move out of 134.

I had a place set aside in my room for when I won the “Krag Rock”on Nicolodeon’s “GUTS”.

I loooove to go out dancing.

I think vacuuming makes everything look clean.

I am addicted to crossword puzzles and Sudokus.

I can’t leave the apartment without making my bed.

I am a roller-coaster fanatic.

I really like country music. And hip-hop. And funk. And Louie Armstrong. And a lot of other things.

I enjoy watching “The Girls Next Door”.

I love the feeling of an airplane taking off….but I get scared every time it lands.

I am the #1 fan of the “Pirates of the Caribbean” movies, and ride!

I ask myself if Stacy and Clinton (”What Not to Wear” anybody?) would “approve” of things before I buy them….They have some valuable opinions!

I will always be in the “mood” for ice-cream.

…feel free to add to the list.

The Seasons, TMNT & Charlie Brown

So far, these are the random costume ideas that my roommates & I have come up with for this year’s Halloween extravaganza.

For those of you who don’t know, TMNT=Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
There’s four of them…four of us…you do the math…I think it’s the best idea yet.

Last year we dressed up as Crayola Crayons…that’s a hard act to follow! We represented the colors “fire engine red”, “razzmatazz”, and “purple people eater”. Using birthday hats covered in the corresponding colored-paper, we were the sharpest crowns in the box. Pretty impressive, I must say. Throughout the night we stood out among the crowds of scandalously dressed girls (”I’m a mouse….duh!”), zombies, ghosts, Frankensteins, etc.

With the night of the 31st less than two weeks away, it’s crunch time. Our first brainstorm for costumes resulted in the possibilities of the following:
-Charlie Brown characters

I get to be Peppermint Patty because of the freckles.

-The Seasons

I’m obviously going with Summer if this is the case.

-A pumpkin patch

This being the simplest of our ideas, which is essentially the appeal.

-TMNT

I have to admit, I am ALL for this one. And I’m totally being Donatello (purple, duh!)

 

 

That’s the best we’ve come up with so far. At this point, we are still open to suggestions. I have discovered there are plenty of websites out there with adult costumes, which I had never thought about before. Some entertaining and totally seasonal, while others exist solely to give people a reason to wear next to nothing and look “dressed up”. I guess by now it’s time to accept that this is what Halloween costumes have come to . What can ya do….

In college, I sometimes forget that this is actually considered a “holiday” (what? it’s not just another reason to get “dressed up” and drink??? hmmmm…..). I am reminded of this annually when I get my “Halloween package” in the mail. Famous for holiday packages, my mom never fails to send them on time and packed full of goodies!! Always including the famous bag of candy corn, Reese’s peanut butter cups, a “fall” scented candle, socks (yes, always socks. Random, I know. I have accumulated quite an impressive collection of holiday socks.), and a festive card wishing me a “Happy Halloween” from the parents. Nothing brightens up a day like some love in the form of holiday mail!

However, the mystery of the costume continues….

I’ll just stick to finishing up the candy for now (two weeks early…oops?). And buying more of my Halloween Oreos of course.

Yes, there really is a place called Kalamazoo

…Reads the t-shirt in a Western Michigan University gift shop.

Road trip! Kalamazoo is located on the western side of Michigan. Crazy name, university town. My weekend consisted of:

-Renting movies
“The Ex” starring Zach Braff=hilarious!
“Reign Over Me” starring Adam Sandler & Don Cheadle=sad, hard to watch, good movie

-Eating at an Italian restaurant called “Zazio’s”
Overall, the food was tasty… aside from one order of “roasted Beet tortelli”. Beets and pasta? Together? Eewwwww

-Topping dinner off with TCBY Ice Cream, outside of an airport for once!

-Watching Penn State beat Wisconsin.
The Nittany Lions remembered how to play some good football. Nice work guys!

-Relaxing, laughing and feeling completely content being with my other half.

-Driving approximately 14 hours in 3 days, across 3 states both ways.
There is no better time of the year to be driving. The leaves are changing and the temperature is perfect (no AC, no heater). Plus, I bought a new radio transmitter/charger for my iPod. Not once did I have to worry about changing a CD or the fact that I get sick of CDs after about five songs. Put iPod on shuffle mode & drive. Wonderful

Back to reality, in State College. Not such a crazy name, still a university town. I love it.

My morning

Number one indicator that I’m awake in the morning: our apartment smells of warm maple syrup and brown sugar.

I never skip breakfast. Honestly, I can’t do it. I love breakfast. I love sitting down, with my warm bowl of oatmeal (topped with raisins and maple syrup), and enjoying my first, most important, meal of the day. Even those mornings when the alarm clock doesn’t do the trick, or I spend too much time checking email/perusing the internet, or I’m just moving slowly and definitely running late…I have my breakfast.

As a Nutrition major, I have been educated on all the reasons we should eat breakfast. A well-balanced breakfast can:
-Jump start your metabolism, kicking it in gear for the rest of the day!
-Help us focus and perform better in the mornings
-Prevent over-eating later in the day
-Provide a boost of energy that most of us can definitely use in the morning!
-Help get in all the nutrients you need every day
Calcium is something that most of us don’t get enough of, but it’s in a lot of breakfast foods including cereal (milk), oatmeal, yogurt, cream-cheese, and even Calcium-fortified Orange Juice!
-Give the body energy that it needs to engage in physical activities

All these things aside; it’s five minutes of your morning where you can sit, relax, eat and enjoy. Then, feeling satisfied and energized, get on with the rest of your day!

I have to give credit to those roommates of mine; great breakfast makers! Especially on Sunday mornings…

Larisa: queen of the pancakes!
Sally Jo: master of eggs, potatoes, and incorporating Ketchup!
Emily: best breakfast-sandwich-maker, no doubt!

…one of my favorite parts of the weekend.

Welcoming Fall…

…with open (arms?) Toe-d shoes!

It is officially the Fall season. We are in school, the first round midterms have come and gone, Football is in full bloom….and it’s still 80 degrees!!!

On this beautiful “fall” day I left the apartment in shorts, a t-shirt and flip-flops. Not typical clothing for the 4th day of October in central Pennsylvania! I have worn jeans twice since starting school, and on the handful of days that a jacket has accompanied me, it has ended up stuffed in a bag by noon. As much as I love warm weather, being a desert native, I will admit that the hot & humid days combined with classes is a little “much”.

We, as Penn-Staters, are somewhat thrown-off. Usually by this time of the year we are switching to jeans and hoodies, and we are preparing ourselves to pull out the heavy-duty winter gear. Approximately one year ago I was spending the weekend in D.C. with some classy ladies, having to wear the jacket-gloves-scarf ensemble that screams “fall is here”! I vividly remember leaving the Museum of Natural History and grabbing a toasty hot-chocolate on our walk over to the (new, gorgeous) World War II memorial.

That seems like a distant memory as I get ready for this weekend; tackling Beaver Stadium in 80 degree sunshine once again, cheering our team to another Home victory.

In reference to fashion faux pas; as long as the weather is ignoring that it’s Fall, I will too. I will continue to wear my shorts, tanks, dresses, sunglasses, and open-toed shoes. However, I do plan on embracing the colors of the season. I love the shades of black, brown, burgundy and maroon that are filling the pages of clothing sites like Banana Republic. I also love the boots and coats, but they will just have to wait…

For the time being, I’m going to enjoy these warm, sunny days.

Gum-Makes mouths happy

This is my philosophy. I will come right out and say it: I chew gum, all the time. It’s habitual, tasty, entertaining (during long lectures, this is what I resort to, sounds pathetic doesn’t it?), and most importantly…it keeps my mouth happy.

Here’s some history for you:

According to my research, gum was put in action by the ancient Greeks. Its legend was continued by the ancient Mayans, who chewed the sap of a sapodilla tree, and by early North American Indians, who chewed the sap of spruce trees. In fact, the term “gum” was used to describe the chewable sap of trees until around 1850. At this time, John B. Curtis created and marketed the first “chewing gum” and labled it State of Maine Pure Spruce Gum. The concept continued to evolve including the creation of gum-dispensing machines, flavors, long-lasting gums, and “bubble” gum.
This brings us to 1914; William Wrigley, Jr. and Henry Fleer create the Wrigley Doublemint brand (about.com).

Thank you good sirs!

Clearly, this brand is still being chewed and enjoyed today by mouths around the world! I am a consistent ( and by consistent, I mean weekly) buyer of Wrigley’s Extra and Orbit brand gums. More specifically, Extra-Polar Ice and Orbit-Bubblemint.

Would you like to be let in on a little secret of mine???

Add these two flavors together (that’s right, chew two pieces at once). Chew simultaneously. Enjoy. I like to think of it as my personal contribution to the ever-evolving gum; I’ll call it….”Polar Bubble”.

I’m also a huge fan of gumballs. I honestly find it hard to resist a gumball machine. Even more so after winning a FREE movie Rental at Mike’s Video! All I did was put in my quarter, anxiously watch the orange gumball roll down the spiral exit into my hand, and voila! My gumball was a “winner”! What was even more entertaining; the 5 year old girl who got a gumball after me (mine must have enticed her), she got a “winner” too! Great story.

However, I will admit that too many of these would result in the loss of teeth with which to chew the gum. Not good, stick with the sugar-free!

The benefit to gum-chewing: it cleans and whitens teeth!
This movement was initiated by Trident brand gum, and has since been picked up as a marketing device for gum labels that claim to “whiten”. There actually may be some truth to this statement. Here are the facts:
-chewing gum makes your mouth salivate
-Saliva contains Calcium
-Calcium is a key factor in maintaining bone health and teeth strength!

On top of all that, the aroma of gum that is released as it is chewed is much more pleasant than the odor-remnants of a hearty meal. It is simple, cheap, and tasty way to cleanse your palate!

Flavor recommendations from the gum connoisseur herself:

Extra-Polar Ice and Watermelon if you are in the need for something sweet. Orbit-Bubblemint, Sweetmint, Raspberry mint, and the original Peppermint.

Let me know what you think!

Family Matters

Those Winslow’s had it all right. Family Matters.
“As days go by, it’s the bigger love of the family.”

Oh, so true.

After a weekend that (to me) started Wednesday night upon the arrival of my parents, I feel content. It consisted of everything PennState of course; Creamery ice cream, football, classes, hiking Mount Nittany, lots of walking around campus, buying PennState everything at the Student Book Store, ridiculously long wait-times for a dinner out on the town, Cirque de Soleil (alright, that might not be “penn state”, but it was a damn good show!), the Farmer’s Market, unexpected torrential rain (although in State College’s defense, it was short-lived for once), surprisingly beautiful sunny weather, more Creamery ice cream and more football. Good stuff.

Despite living 1,000+ miles away from my family, I feel like they are as close as they have ever been. It’s amazing how a relationship with parents can change so much in just a few fast years. They are no longer just the people who watch over you, give you advice, take care of you, and tell you what you can and can’t do. Instead, they become your friends, confidants and comfort. They will always have the advice on life (should you decide to take it), the guidance, the experiences, and the time to focus on you.

It felt good to show them around the life I’ve made for myself at college and know that they are proud of me. It also felt good to legally order a drink with them at dinner, beat my dad at “Hearts” (this does Not happen often, he’s a tricky one), and to not care if I went “out” this weekend because I was just as content spending the nights “In” hanging out with my parents.

Although I did spend Saturday night on the town, once again hittin’ up Lulu’s Nightspot. Good stuff right there.

Saying good-bye is bittersweet. Back to this college-life of mine, which is nothing to complain about. And only 6 weeks until Thanksgiving break (counting down, of course ).