Reality TV Randoms

I started watching house hunters back in 2009 when we were first starting to look for houses.  I thought maybe it was a phase because I was in house hunting mode but nope.  I'm still addicted.  I just watched an episode about a couple looking for a house in Hendersonville, TN and got to thinking that maybe we should up move there.  With a $350,000 budget you can get a large mansion like 4200 square foot 4 bedroom 3 bath move in ready home with hard wood floors throughout and sky high ceilings.  Granite counter tops included.  Oh, and an office.  Did I mention the 1200 square foot finished basement with a wet bar?  We don't ever want or need a place bigger then 2,500 square feet so just Imagine how little we would have to spend on the house of our dreams there.  I love So Cal but the Sunshine tax is such a high price to pay.   You can't get anything close to that here for that price.   But...on the other hand when I think about the perfect weather we have here it's worth it.  I guess.

There is Basketball Wives, Baseball Wives and House Wives of:  Atlanta, New Jersey, New York, Orange County and Beverly Hills.  Did I leave any out?  Well, the other night I stumbled upon Prison Wives.  Let's just say it's way different then those other shows.  There is nothing glamorous about this one.  Annika Powell; a single mom with three kids decides to marry Anthony who is a convicted murderer serving time in a maximum security prison.  She was hooked up by the fiance of one of his cell mates.  Her and her kids have moved 5 times in 3 years to follow Anthony when he gets transferred to different prisons.  She's sort of like a military wife except when Anthony gets transferred it's certainly not for a new job and he never brings home a paycheck.  In fact, he never comes home.  Ever.  And he never will because he is a lifer with no chance of parole.  She survives on food stamps.  Anthony has stepped in from behind the walls of prison to be a much loved step dad to her kids.  She even wants Anthony to legally adopt the kids and have them change their last name to his.  That would require a man who is not imprisoned, albeit a dead beat, to give up his parental rights so I can't imagine any court in the country allowing this.  Annika's mom even got in on the inmate action.  Anthony found a pen pal for grandma who promptly fell in love as well.  When he got transferred to a different prison grandma moved out of Annika's house to move closer to him.

Photo Source and Video of Mia's mom behaving badly

I tried so hard to give up Toddler's and Tiaras.  I removed it from my DVR and basically quit it for a couple seasons.  There is something so wrong yet so enjoyable about watching these little girls and their moms go out to compete and kick butt in the cut throat world of pageants.  The next thing I knew I was watching it again.  There are kids who are so sweet and hard working in spite of their awful parents and kids who have some major behavioral issues and drive their poor parents nuts.  Last Week's episode featured precious little 4 year old Mia who competed her heart out. Her music ended before she left the stage in the Beauty competition so her mom was ranting and raving that she better forget about winning and that the judges hated her when she hadn't even finished the competition.  What kind of parent discourages their young child that way?  Then, when she won  $500 bucks and the second biggest title mom says that is nothing to her.  She wanted the $10,000 prize and now her dreams and her life are ruined because Mia didn't win it.  Okay...how is this pageant her life and how is her 4 year old daughter responsible for it?  One mom spent $1,200 bucks on a dress and her daughter didn't even get a crown.  Mia's mom says she is Russian therefore very competitive but that's no excuse.  Not that this has anything to do with anything but incidentally, she is a mail order bride.  She met her husband on the internet while she was still in Russia then she came out and got married.  Some parents take it way too far and push their kids way too hard.  I don't agree with packing on all of that make up and the concept of little girls being judged on their "facial beauty."  Regardless, I remain fascinated by the show and can't stop watching.  Please tell me I'm not alone.

The School Experiment

I hate to say it but working full time and going to school is for the birds.  I can't even imagine if I was going full time or had kids or anything else.  I have so much respect for people who earn their degree as a full time working adult.  My husband is working on his B.A. right now and I'm really proud of him for persevering even though it's so hard.  Last semester I took 2 community college classes.  One fully online and the other partially online.  Some of those nights that I had to work from 8-5 then go to class from 6:30 to 9:50pm were pretty awful.   I started out good but by the last class I was so over it.  Online classes are no piece of cake either.  You really have to watch your deadlines and you don't have to go to class but you still put in a lot of time doing the assignments and discussion boards.  Trying to juggle work, the gym, house work, socializing and time to relax while fitting in class and homework is hard.  I was genuinely interested in my classes.  One of them was even to explore a possible new career option.  I found that I actually enjoyed the challenge of learning and being tested.  If I take a class I'm gunning for an A so it was frustrating to feel that I just didn't have the energy or time to put into it that I wanted to.  The day I took my last final I felt so free.  My time off from work became my own again and I really missed that.  I was worried that my mind had turned to mush after being out of school for so long but I got A's in both classes.  I'm taking two short term (hopefully easy!) 8 week courses this semester to get the 12 units I need to get my pay bump at work and then that's it.  I'm officially back in school as of today.  Not thrilled. 

Thank goodness I got my BA done when I was still a bright eyed fresh faced unemployed/part time working 21 year old because if I had waited who knows if it would have ever happened.  I'm glad I did this though.  This little school experiment affirms what I kind of already knew.  At this point in my life school is just not for me.  If money and time were no object maybe.  If I had my eye on a specific career goal that I was passionate about maybe.  If someone promised me a million bucks if I get my Masters degree...big maybe! But with my current life circumstances it's just not something I want to undertake and it's good to know that for sure now instead of having to wonder.

I Never Get Sick

Achoo!!  Don't get too close [Photo Credit:  Jupiter Images]
I never get sick, says the girl who is currently coughing up a storm, has a congested chest, runny nose and can literally feel the weight of heavy eye balls sitting inside her head.  How dare my immune system let me down.  I had a weird stomach bug for Christmas but aside from that I haven't had a cold since...well I can't remember but definitely not in 2011.  I'm pretty sure I've had the flu at some point but that was even longer ago to even remember.

Too bad there is too much going on at work for me to stay home right now.  I went to the gym anyways on Tuesday, came straight home yesterday and today I'm planning to stick with my Yoga class.  Unless you are seriously ill they say that physical activity can be helpful even when you just feel like putting your head under the covers and never coming out.  I have some NyQuil gel tabs to help me sleep at night.  I've also been drinking Emergen-C vitamin Drink Mix.  A co worker gave me a couple packets and I figured why not?  It's fruity and actually doesn't taste too bad.  I might be too far gone for it help but I could use the vitamins so it can't hurt. 

My usual swipes of blush and powder did not make it to my face this morning.  Feeling sick is my excuse to look like crap.  That's also my excuse for being a little bit late this morning and eating Nutter Butters for breakfast.  Anyhow, the plan is to feel better by Saturday so I can enjoy my weekend.

How to Get a Runway Body

Candice Swanepoel and Erin Heatherton tell us how it's done

Caution: Watching this video might turn you into a supermodel.  If only it were that easy right?  I don't doubt that these ladies work out to stay fit, toned and runway ready but I'm also pretty sure that most of what they got is the result of hitting the gene pool jackpot.  We all know that Victoria's Secret models are well done genetic aberrations who's likeness cannot be duplicated with mere boxing, Zumba or jump rope sessions.  No workout regime on the planet can stretch a body to 5'10", reformulate metabolism and totally rearrange the placement and dimensions of waist to hip ratio.  They can't exactly stand up there and admit that they are simply born that way.  I do agree with what they said at the end.  "If your body feels good you look good."

Victoria's Secret has a new line of workout wear.  VSX Sexy Sport.  They've got everything right down to a very sexy water bottle and yoga mat.  Such cute stuff.  I might have to get some...after it hits clearance.  I'm well aware that it won't magically turn me into a Victoria's Secret Angel but it'll make me feel good to look cute at the gym.