What's Happening?

On my bookshelf (my current reads)-   
























In my DVD player- Reruns of House and Moonlight 

 

On my TV-  

Bachelorette- This season is extremely boring yet I still turn it on every Monday night. Seems to me they already told us who Des chooses...??? Hmmm...I wonder where the drama is?

 
Under The Dome- I've enjoyed the first couple of episodes, but I'm not sure I'm hooked yet. 

 








Siberia- I've been catching this one at nbc.com. Love the premise of a reality show gone wrong. I am left wondering what will happen next.








America's Got Talent- I am amazed at all the talented (and not so talented) people in this world!

On my MP3- Train and a little country.

On my ring tone-  Call Me Maybe

On my computer-   

A rough draft of my latest story. I was really hoping to be much farther along by now but life and plotting issues have gotten in the way. I've been spending a lot of time re-drafting some plot points, so hopefully the story is heading in the right direction now. I was about to give up on it and start something new...but for now, I'm pushing forward. Cross your fingers. I will keep you posted.

Drafting presentations for some upcoming speeches.

Doing some photo shoots and working with photoshop.
 
On my calendar-  Keeping up with life, some writing time, and maybe a little play time. I can't believe how fast summer has gone. Time has definitely gotten away from me. I hope that I can spend a little time in the near future enjoying family, relaxing, and maybe  write something creative.

So...What's happening with you?
 

There Should Be a Rule

I really think there should be a rule against getting sick in the summer...it just shouldn't happen! I spent all of last week laid up on my couch with a low grade fever. And the heat wasn't helping me any. It was nearly 90 degrees most of the week.

The good thing about being sick and stuck on the couch? I had every excuse to catch up on movie watching. I rented a bunch of movies and curled up with a pillow and lots of coconut water.





 I enjoyed this movie but didn't love it. I thought the premise was great and enjoyed the acting, yet I thought something was missing. I don't think things were clear and the story got boring at times. But...I really loved the ending. And in the end, I was glad I watched it.






Because I loved the premise of the movie, I decided to pick up the book. I felt it was much better...and not just because it's a book. I have liked the movie over the book many, many times. But this was a case where the book was just better. I liked the voice, and once again, I really loved the ending.

 I though I'd pick this movie up and see what it was all about. I was glad I did. It was very enjoyable. I easily get sucked into sweet love stories with a little magic.









I enjoyed the movie, so I decided to pick up the book. I am reading it now. I will let you know what I think.









 I am not a huge Zombie fan...not really...although I love the Walking Dead (Both the graphic novels and the AMC show) But I thought this would be an interesting twist on the Zombie apocalypse, and I was right. It was enjoyable, and crazy enough, I cared for R immediately. The story was a very fun look on the overwritten zombie theme.







 I liked R as a character and am curious how Issac Marion wrote him in the novel. I am planning on picking up this book next. I love that it all started with a short story on his website. Great story in itself!










I watched this movie last night...my last hurrah before I need to re-focus myself and get back to work. This was interesting...I enjoyed it.







I saw a few other movies...but nothing to write home about!

If you get a chance to relax, watch a movie! But please don't get sick...having a cold and fever in the summer time is miserable. It really should be a rule that you can't get sick in the summer!!!

Stay healthy and Enjoy-
Rebecca

Defining Beauty

I was inspired by Susan Oloier's post at Moxie Writers- Media Monday- Redefining Beauty about  Rick Guidotti. Rick Guidotti was a fashion photographer in NYC who took pictures of what was considered the world's most beautiful people. During a chance encounter with a young girl with albinism, he turned his world upside down and starting taking beautiful pictures of individuals with genetic disorders. You can read his full story here or listen to his TEDtalk here. Rick Guidotti is redefining beauty. He is showing that you that there is beauty in everyone.

Lately I have been thinking a lot about what society defines as beautiful and what is actually real in the fashion industry. When you look at those fashion ads in magazines, did you know that what you are looking at is altered? Those models in Victoria Secrets magazines are stunning, but did you know that those photos are photoshopped before going to print? Not only has society set a standard for what we all should considered beautiful, but they have altered reality. Not even the most stunning model can reach those standards without being tightened, smoothed, and lifted in a computer program.

Beauty surrounds us. It draws us in. It creates happiness and joy.

But what is beauty?

Beauty is defined as (1.) A combination of qualities, such as shape, color, or form, that pleases the aesthetic senses, esp. the sight. (2.) A combination of qualities that pleases the intellect or moral sense.


But what does that mean to you?

Beauty is subjective. It is often a personal experience. What is beautiful to you, may not be as beautiful to someone else.


















Yet society has changed our perspectives of beauty. The industry has told us what we must think is beautiful. They have told us that we have to have high cheek bones, unobtainable thin waist, long legs, and absolutely no fat under the arms.





No wonder our perception of beauty is so distorted...











And is beauty a cultural thing? A time period thing?

When you look at other cultures, other periods in time, you find different attributes that define beauty.

So...is beauty in the eye of the beholder? Or is beauty based on what society tells us it is?

If you look close enough you can see beauty in everything.

-Rebecca

Thank you! The Sunshine Award

Thank you, Mary Hill from Mary-andering for the wonderful Sunshine Award! So very sweet of you to nominate me!



Ten Questions:

1. What inspired you to start blogging? I started blogging to get ready for the release of my debut novel, Break From You, and fell in love with it. I love the community of bloggers and writers. I enjoy interacting and commenting. It has been great getting to know everyone! :) 
 
2. How did you come up with the name of your blog? Well, the name of my blog is my name...so no creativity there.

 
3. What is your favorite blog to read? Oh my...there are too many great blogs that I love to read to name just one or two...
 
4. Tell us about your dream job: I've had a few dream jobs. Being a teacher was definitely a dream job. I loved every moment of it! And I was a raft guide for a few summers after college. I couldn't have asked for anything more than spending the day on a river in the sun. Now, I love to write and raise awareness, so I am loving what I do and would consider it a dream job.
 
5. Is your glass half-full or half-empty?  Depends on what is in it! I am a very positive person, and I always look at the bright side of things (most of the time!)
 
6. If you could go anywhere for a week's vacation, where would you go? I would stay right here! I don't really like to travel.
 7. What food can you positively not eat? Wheat. I have Celiac Disease.
 
8. Dark chocolate or milk chocolate? Neither. I am allergic. :(
 
9. How much time do you spend blogging? Depends on the day! 
 
10. Do you watch TV and if so, what are your favorite shows? I love Criminal Minds and Flash Point. I have also been catching up on reruns of House. And my guilty pleasure is Dancing with the Stars or Bachelor/Bachelorette.   


Thank you again, Mary Hill for the wonderful nomination!

I am supposed to nominate other bloggers. I will send my nominations via Twitter!!! :)

  

Time to Move! Get Healthy Blog Hop

 Get Healthy Blog Hop hosted by

 Michael Di Gesu, Steven Tremp, Alex J. Cavanaugh, and L. Diane Wolfe.

Blog Hop rules: All you have to do is tell us how you keep in shape. On May 29, 2014 authors, writers, and bloggers will share tips, advice and inspiration for how they keep in shape and stay healthy.

Click here for a full list of participants or to join in on the fun.

How I keep healthy...

 Hula Hooping- 

Typically a childhood activity, hula hooping has a huge number of benefits including increased cardiac endurance and heart health, increased flexibility and spine mobility, increased muscle tone in stomach, butt, arms, and legs-- to name a few. Besides, it's loads of fun. And did you know that you can burn up to 100 calories every 10 minutes of hula hooping???

 Oh the benefits of hiking...there are so many, including increased cardio-vascular health, increased muscle tone, increased bone density, decrease cancer risk and so so much more! The great part? Hiking is so much fun. It is easy to forget you are exercising when you spend most of the time exploring the sites around you.

Swimming. Now that the swimming pool is open for the season, I am planning to spend a lot of time poolside, reading, writing, and blogging- but I also plan on taking time and swimming laps. Swimming is such an amazing activity, and on a hot day, there is no better place to be than in a cool swimming pool!

 

And my favorite activities...Line Dancing!!! 

(Sorry, I didn't have a great picture of me and my line dance buddies...I will have to get some!)

I love music. I love to dance.

Not only do you get great aerobic exercise from line dancing, but it also has many social and emotional benefits. I have made some very special and amazing friendships with my line dancing buddies. I cherish every one of them! And line dancing is a great way to escape the computer screen and all the stress of the day. 

I spend 2-4 hours line dancing a week and rarely miss a class.

It is also important to eat right!

What do you do to stay active???

Have a great day and stay healthy! -Rebecca