"How to get a bubble butt"

         I have never really been the type of person who can sit around and watch YouTube videos all day, unless they are the hysterical remix videos of Sweet Brown, which I do have time for! Over the span of perhaps a year and a half I have found myself slowly subscribing to more and more YouTube Channels. I discovered Jenna Marbles my senior year. Then last summer I found “This Is A Commentary” put on by Tre Melvin, whom you may have heard of it if you have ever seen “Shit Black Girls Say”, (right).  Then about two months ago I stumbled across a whole new world of YouTube that I would have never guessed existed.

I was on Google searching, “how to get a bubble butt” and the first page that I clicked on was a YouTube video, I didn’t find it helpful but for some reason, I clicked on the link that led me to the main page of the personal trainer, Davey Wavey. He had all these different workout videos, I felt like Aladdin with the magic lamp and genie, except YouTube was my lamp and Davey Wavey was my genie. I didn’t want to tell anyone about it, partly because I wanted to keep it all to myself and partly because I didn’t want to admit that I use workout videos. But I found them super resourceful when I didn’t have time to go to the gym or wanted something quick before work.     

There was one video I found, “Insane 8 Minute Butt Workout!” (left) and it featured another trainer, who in-fact was named one of YouTube’s Next Trainers. She was this upbeat very motivational Asian girl who had her own YouTube channel as well, called Blogilates. I never really gave it much thought, but two weeks ago in World Religions we were reading about Hinduism, and it went over Pilates briefly. I though back to how I had subscribed to Blogilates and thought I’d give it a try and can I just say, I’m so sore, but I love it. I’ve been doing the Blogilates for about a week now, and it’s insane how much control you need in your entire body yet Cassey, the trainer, makes it look so simple, she will seriously do it while holding a full conversation with the camera, talking about music and food, then motivating you (the viewer) telling you how great you’re doing. When I was doing it the other day, I just thought, “I think you must really be an incredible person to spend your life, teaching people how to be healthy and showing them workouts, all for free. That’s super inspirational to me. There should be more people in the world like that.”

To be honest, I never thought I’d rely on YouTube for a good workout, I always just stuck to the gym or hiked. But I don’t regret stumbling across it, each video is something new and I  must be hooked  to say that I’m ready for a new video to come out already!Here are all the YouTube channels I mentioned...

Jenna Marbles   http://www.youtube.com/user/JennaMarbles

This Is A Commentary  http://www.youtube.com/user/ThisIsACommentary

Davey Wavey  http://www.daveywaveyfitness.com/

Blogilates   http://www.youtube.com/blogilates

V'Day- It's WAR!

                                 With Valentine's Day less than a week away, the pressure is on for those hopeless romantics to find love. They are being constantly reminded with the stock item gifts that over flow every grocery store. Tick-tock. Media is always a constant reminder as well, with every reality show that is aired and romantic comedy that is previewed. It's no wonder single people feel "forever alone"!

       Two weeks ago, I had no clue I'd be in the place I am now. I was talking to someone whom I thought liked me but instead I ended up with an apology message , “sorry if I’ve been leading you on…”, was my favorite line of the whole message and the best part, it was via Facebook. How classy! That’s when I thought, if you can’t find the courage to give me the straight up truth, then why should I invest any more of my time into something that obviously wasn’t going to progress. It takes two to tango!

 I find it funny that it happened in February, isn’t that always the way? Heartbreak in February, weight gain during summer, convert to Judaism in December.  I’m only joking, but seriously when I was at the store the other day, I flipped off the Valentine’s Day isle and I was yelling at the TV when some dating show was on. Typically when I watch TV it's when my mom has full reign of the television and channel chases from one guilty pleasure show to the next. It's hard to tolerate The Real Housewives of O.C. and Keep up with those Kardashians, all in one night! Recently she's been mesmerized by all the uncontrollable drama and heartbreak that takes place in ABC's The Bachelor. Now I had watched clips of the show when I walked in either her room or the living room and find it to be the stupidest thing I’ve ever seen.  It's crazy how some women get so drawn into it all, there is actually even a video game, based off the show. It's probably for those women who didn't make it on in the first place. It is there chance at wining in a virtual way! What if they lose? That would be awkward. 

This week when I actually sat down and watched an episode, I got both very confused as to what was happening, I had so many questions. They make so much happen in one hour. But I also felt very bad for one girl that got sent home when it wasn’t even the rose ceremony.  I posted on Facebook  “I feel bad for one arm Sara. She just got sent home. It makes me want to cry for her. She says "it's just the same old thing, I'm always told I'm a great girl and any guy would be lucky to be with me."

I was feeling all weird about it the show, I was seriously angry, so I posted

“The concept of The Bachelor is stupid, these girls are all fighting for the attention of one man and he obviously doesn't love them all yet he continues to lead them all on. I don't think that's fair to their feelings like just pick one stupid ass and be honest.”

Honestly you aren’t going to find love by dating a million women on national television, that’s asking for many things, and love isn’t one of them.  I think when it comes to love…I’ll get back to you on that one. 

Stafford- The Life in Writing

Often when reading books or articles in magazines they are able to draw me in and make me forget about everything that is around me.  I find myself getting carried away into a whole different world that I would have never dreamed about. Writing has the ability to take you from your everyday reality and bring you into a world the writer has created using only words. I think exceptional writing makes you use your imagination because the reader comes up with their own idea of what characters and the setting looks like. They visualize this world that they are only reading about and brought somewhere much deeper then they've fathomed. 

                When I think of writing taking on it's own life, I don’t actually think of it as coming alive, singing and dancing, but I take to mean that it has grown very popular and now has formed a community. If you think about it, many TV shows and movies have been widely based off writing. Some good examples would be Pretty Little Liars or The Hunger Games. Both started out as a book series, but because of their immense popularity and large fan base they made their way on so many different platforms, such as Instagram, back to school merchandise and clothing. Someone was able to interpret the writers words and make it into popular visual media for all audiences to enjoy. This is great for those who don't enjoy reading, because if they really loved what they watched, they may have felt inspired to go out and read whatever book their program was based on. 

                    Well, this is all due to the fact that it started with words, brought to the page from the writer. Then there’s the question, “What’s the role of the writer?” Well, I believe the writer plays a large role in the entire process; they are the ones who bring life to their work. They make sure it makes sense, that it is interesting enough to capture an audience. They convey their message and tell their stories in a way that will hold a person’s attention but I think the hardest part would be finding a way to find the right audience. This all said, I think it takes both the writer and the reader to bring some sort of life to the writing. But it primarily falls to the writer to bring his work alive.