Fill In The Blank Friday _ 11.26.10

In honor of Black Friday! Yes, I did go shopping this morning, and yes I am tired!

[Play Here]

1.   Black Friday is       chaotic, but such a fun tradition   .

2.  Christmas shopping this year will include    a gift or two for my loved ones .

3.  Holiday shopping makes me       excited for the upcoming holidays!     .

4.  This year my Christmas list will include    a lot of things to help my baking obsession .

5.  Bargain hunter, or full price shopper?      bargain hunter all the way, hence the reason why I went out shopping on Black Friday .

6.  The best and worst things about shopping is         [the best] - giving other gifts and seeing their reactions; [the worst] - spending money   .

7.  Online shopper or in-person shopper?       I'm definitely an in-person shopper. I need to see what I'm buying or try it on before I actually shell out money for it    .

Look for upcoming posts about Carrie Underwood, Thanksgiving, and of course my obsession with baking! Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving :]

The Go Girl Guide: Book Review

Now I'm not one to read self-help books, but it was a requirement for my Psychology of Adjustment class. A month or two ago, I was in the aisles of a two-floor B&N with my dad. While he was busy looking at the wall of cookbooks, I was busy looking at the shelves of self-help books. My professor told the class to focus on something that we'd like to work on to better ourselves. There were just so many options to choose from: time management, stress, relationships, happiness! I didn't know what to choose. All I kept thinking was, man, I must need a lot of help if all these books seem like they would be useful to me. Suddenly I came across the Go Girl Guide: Surviving your 20s with savvy, soul, and style, a self-help book by Julia Bourland. I wasn't only attracted to it because of the cute pictures on the cover, but also because it would help me with a variety of things that I most definitely needed help on in this new decade. She didn't make silly promises or use psychobabble, like most self-help books do, instead she was giving advice as a 20 something year old woman. She even included advice from other 20 something year olds, as well as professionals in fields like counseling, education, and psychologists. 

Synopsis according to Barnes and Noble:

"A woman's 20s are a roller coaster of highs and lows, unseen twists, and frustrating turns. Irreverent yet helpful and information, The Go-Girl Guide covers everything from dating to climbing the career ladder to dealing with a body that has packed on some pounds, exactly what girls just entering or already swimming in this brave new world need to know. Julia Bourland's straight-talking survival guide puts the entire decade in perspective, giving you a sense that the uncensored insider's scoop from an older, more worldly sister.

Julia Bourland is a 20-something freelance writer who has written dozens of articles on women's health, fitness, and lifestyle for such national magazines as Shape, Woman's Day, Conde Nast Women's Sports and Fitness, Parenting, and Rebecca's Garden. Prior to freelancing, she worked as an associate editor at Parenting."

My Review:

Although I thoroughly enjoyed this book, I think it's more for women who are just graduating college, or are in their mid-20s. I'm new to this decade in life and couldn't exactly relate to all that Bourland was talking about. However, I did enjoy the vast array of topics she discussed including: our careers, our love lives, our body and soul, our support group, as well as our finances and other loose ends. Bourland gives honest advice and doesn't sugar coat anything. She uses comparisons in order for readers to better understand what she's saying; for example: she compares getting a job, to getting a date & having your first job to being in a tribe. She also uses humor when discussing the more sensitive subjects, like dating. Bourland even includes quotes from movies such as Jerry Maguire! Not only is this book filled with advice from cover to cover, but the author also throws in "Go Girl Resources" in the back of the book, that has suggestions on other things, whether it be books or websites, to read. 

My favorite part about this book was the Top Ten List of Things to Do in Your 20s:

"10. Learn to guffaw

9. Have a wild and passionate fling

8. Travel far and wide

7. Fulfill those lifelong fantasies

6. Run a marathon, do a triathlon, or bike a century ride

5. Take a women's self-defense class

4. Reform dietary inadequacies

3. Keep in touch with at least one high school friend

2. Don't work too hard

1. Dig on these times"

Overall this book was very informative, and I even took several pages of notes on the book, but I won't bore you with those! If you want help in this turbulent decade of mood swings, body demons, careers, and relationships, I definitely suggest this book for your. 

My Rating: 3.5 stars

Prematurity Awareness Month

Although I'm not a mother, and although I don't know any preemies at this moment in my life, I have this strong bond with March of Dimes. This year was the first year I walked to fight for premature babies and their mothers. Together, with my team, we raised almost $2,000 to help premature babies, as well as to help educate their mothers on how to lessen the chances of this happening to their child. 


I am blogging about Prematurity Awareness Month and fighting for babies, because they are unable to fight for themselves. 

Objective:
Every year, 20 million babies are born too soon, too small and very sick-half a million of them in the U.S. November 17th is when we fight!


Today is the day in which we remember, honor, and/or celebrate special babies. I know not only money needs to be raised, but education in America, as well as around the world needs to be raised. Therefore, I have been searching for a way other than the March of Dimes/March for Babies Fund. Just recently I have changed my major, as most of you know to Child Life Specialist, in which I will assist doctors and nurses in making the hospital a quick and painless process for children. I will not only help them through play, both therapeutic and non-therapeutic, but I will also assess their development and their ability to cope, depending on their situation and treatment. I have also just recently became a volunteer with the Make-a-Wish-Foundation. 


I want to help in any way I can, and if spreading the word helps, I will do it. 


Please look into donating, or even volunteering for this amazing fundraiser. If you are unable to, please just take this with you: Everyday an unnecessary large amount of babies are born premature, you can stop this just by spreading the word that there are places for mothers who need education or advice about pregnancy. This can be stopped. Babies need a chance to live full, healthy lives. Why not give them a chance?

CLGNY Conference

Monday, October 8th, 2010, I took a train with a couple of girls to NY. At 6:00 in the morning, the sky was still dark and there was a chill in the air. The train took us to Penn Station; we then needed to get on a subway for a couple of blocks until we reached NYU. Although my friend and I separated from the rest of the girls, because no one knew where they were going, we ended up getting to the Kimmel Center with a few minutes to spare. Signing in, I couldn't wait to get upstairs to enhance my knowledge about Child Life Specialists. Changing my major to Family & Child Studies with a concentration in Child Life Specialist was probably the best thing I've done in my college career. I am so intrigued with this profession. Not only do I get to make children smile, but I also get to make their hospital visit a little less traumatic, with the help of play :]


Once we took our seats at the table, breakfast was served. After going up for seconds, because the muffins were delicious, I wanted to walk around to each of the tables set up by different organizations. I asked my one friend to come with me, but she did not want to be bothered. I decided that I was going to make the best out of this day. I mean I was already up and I wasn't going to sleep anytime soon, even though I was extremely tired, so why not? I was there to learn, not to sit and watch everyone else absorb all the information. 

Afterwards, the guest speakers began. The first one discussed play and how important it is for ALL children to be a part of, especially when they're in the hospital. It helps them develop and grow. You better believe that I wrote down as much notes as possible.


We then had to separate based on the sessions we chose when we registered. Fortunately, or unfortunately, depending on how you look at it... I didn't exactly choose the right way, but it's way too confusing to explain. There were several sessions, and I attended two. One was about other jobs one can get with a child life specialist certification and skills, while the other was a seminar on True Colors. 

They were both extremely interesting and I learned a good amount of information that I can take with me as  I search for jobs, and become employed in the future. 


We were then dismissed, but not before we received our certificate of attendance, and I snapped a few pictures of course, because even though it was raining, the view was beautiful. I love the city in the winter. 

Fill in the Blank Friday _ 11.05.10

1.   My last haircut was       in September, I believe, when I actually had bangs .

2.  My most daring hair moment was      a couple of years ago when I decided to braid parts of my hair in St. Maarten, let me just tell you it not only hurt when the lady on the beach was doing it, but also when I got them out, ouchhhh  . 

3.  A hairstyle I'd never be brave enough to try is       a short cut again     .

4.  I've always dreamt of being a (blonde, brunette or red-head)    red-head probably. because I know I could never ever go blonde  .

5.  My go-to hair do is       curly and down; it's so easy because I just let my hair hair dry, sleep on it, and it's extremely curly - sometimes I don't even have to sleep on it, it just curls naturally     .

6.  My biggest hair disaster was      when I asked my hairdresser to highlight my hair with a blonde color, and she ended up dying the whole thing! Luckily she was able to wash it out before it was able to do any damage .

7.  A hairstyle I am dying to try is         short, with layers and caramel highlights   .

8.  My best hair day was       probably on prom     .

9.  The worst hairstyle I ever had was   a bob cut type thing. I was about 12 or 13 and I cut it to my chin. Worst disaster ever because I didn't have a clue as to what a straightener was.  

10.  My hair is        unbearable, most of the time, but I've grown to love it     .

another month flies by

Can you believe it? October is over and done with, not before an amazing weekend out with friends dressed as who ever we wanted to be. I think that's the best part of Halloween, dressing up as someone you're not. You're essentially being someone else for the day/night. It lets children's imaginations soar, and adult's imaginations to become alive again. 


Friday night I went to a club with my friend Amanda, for our friend's birthday! It was a costume party. Best costume would win a $1,000! An avatar won! She had blue makeup covering her entire body, and hair exactly like the girl in the movie. It was amazing to see such detail and precision that went into making her costume, it wasn't just bought at a halloween store. 

I ended up using a dress I had and being a Geisha girl. Now I don't usually wear makeup so this was a big thing for me! I have to admit, with the chopsticks in my hair and bright lipstick I looked exactly like one!

Amanda, my friend on the right, was KE$HA!

what?! Ke$ha arrested? haha

Gymnast, Lady GAGA, & a Police Officer ;]

After the club we went for a late night snack at where else? McDonalds! Unfortunately, I didn't get home until 3:30 in the morning, and with only 4 hours of sleep before work, I ended up doing homework & relaxing the rest of the day and night. I didn't end up going out to any party Saturday night. However, Sunday was actually Halloween and I was determined to go out no matter what. I slept a good amount and was ready to go. Before anything, I dressed my dog in her adorable costume for only $10.00 at Target! 

An ICE CREAM SUNDAE ! She absolutely hated it and refused to move when the banana was on her head, therefore, I didn't take her out trick or treating. 

I, however, did go trick or treating, with Amanda. I bought a $22.00 shirt at Hot Topic, $7.00 leggings at Kohl's that could always been worn again, a cape I found in the attic and was....

BATGIRL ! 

We ended up going trick or treating around towns, but it was difficult because everyone had there lights out early. We didn't get too much candy, but we got enough to last us a week or two, and who need more candy then that right?

I loved this Halloween, not only was I smart with my money, but I had a great time. 

I hope everyone else enjoyed their Halloween, just as much as I did.