Big Hair Love

The other day I posted a Facebook status saying something like, "some days you just have to embrace big hair."

And it's so true. There are days where you can try and try but no matter want you do you're going to have big hair. And that's okay. There's nothing wrong with big hair. In fact, one could argue that big hair is sexier.

One, being me.

I love me some big hair.

Tall Women and Other Beautiful Traits

I just wanted to take a moment to talk about what makes us beautiful.

Last night I was watching the gold medal women's beach volleyball match between Misty May-Treanor/ Kerri Walsh-Jennings and Jen Kessy/ April Ross. (congrats to the reigning champions for winning!) I heard them say that Kerri Walsh was 6'3". I knew she was tall, but 6'3"? That's taller than my dad.

I got to thinking about how when she was younger she was probably teased for her height. But the beautiful thing is that she embraced it, became the world's best beach volleyball blocker--something that requires height. She embraced it. 


It's a lesson that all women (and men!) can learn from. Even if there is something that might make you stand out or cause you to get teased for...embrace it, because you're beautiful! You never know...you could be the next Olympic gold medalist.


What trait are you embracing today?

Middle Part Love

One of the summer trends that I'm obsessed with is the middle part. My mom hates it. Although, she pretty much hates anything that reminds her of the 70s. But I can't help it, I love my center part. It might be because I have so much hair that when I part on the side, it is just an over abundance of hair on one side of my head. But whatever it is, my center part is here to stay.

What is your favorite summer trend?





photo 1, 2, 3

CrossFit: We're Having a Challenge

First of all I want you to forget everything you know about exercising. Forget about the treadmill or the elliptical and definitely forget about the weight machines. Just listen for a hot second.

CrossFit is unlike anything you've ever done for exercise before. The reason you keep hearing about it is because it works and (gasp!) it's fun!

A couple of us from On Stage decided to join a local CrossFit studio, CrossFit Uproar. We wanted to see what all the rage was about and if it really could change you like they say it can. So here we are, in the second week of our two month challenge and let me tell you, I already know it's doing something because I can feel it everyday when I move my sore muscles.

So what is it? At CrossFit Uproar, the very first class you take is a "foundations" class, so I happen to know the answer.

crossfit: constantly varied functional movement performed at high intensity

That sounds a little scary at first. I think I actually got nervous butterflies, but every single move is gone over in so much detail that you could teach the class if you wanted. Every person in Uproar's classes are informed and confident in their moves. It's pretty fantastic. 

It's the functional movement part of the definition that I like that most. I had never thought about it before, but when in life do you ever do most of the moves performed on a weight machine? The answer is never. Of course, there are some exceptions, but everyday I lift something off the ground, put it over head, swing side to side. The movements and the workouts consist of those functional movements. 

It just all makes so much more sense to me. 

Over the next two months you'll be hearing a lot about CrossFit and our challenge. Mainly because we're so stoked about it, but also because we want you to be too. In fact, we really want you to participate in our challenge as well. Find yourself a CrossFit studio (check out CrossFit Uproar if you live in the Magnolia area) and try it out three times a week for two months. Send me your progress and updates. Let's all change our lives for the better. 

Stefan Rueda, owner and founder of Uproar, told us, "CrossFiit athletes look like Greek Gods." That was all the motivation I needed. 

My Thoughts on Beauty

Last week, I was playing on the internet, a common occurrence if you must know, and I found this article.  The article is about Kristen Stewart, who up until yesterday I wasn't a big fan of. When asked why, I never really had an answer. I would say things like, "she's just so awkward," "was it really necessary for her to say those things about paparazzi?" But then I read the things that the lovely Kate Spencer had to say about her in that article, and I thought, wow, could I have been more of a jerk?

All of the things that I held against Kristen were things that I value in myself and in my friends. Individuality. Speaking your mind. And it got me thinking about beauty and how it has changed. 

I look at these models in magazines or online and I instantly find I'm comparing myself to them. It is an impossible task. I almost have to tell myself that they aren't real women. They are plucked and tweaked and pulled in so many directions that the person is hardly recognizable beneath. Just watch this Dove Real Beauty video.  

But you know what? It's hard. It's hard to tell myself that it's okay to have a pimple or to have gained that extra 4 pounds during Christmastime (I mean come on, who can resist all those cookies?). But I almost don't even care about that anymore, what I'm more worried about is my future children...or my friends children. How can I expect my daughter to believe me when I tell her she's beautiful when everything around her tells her she isn't? 

The only thing I can do is hope. But I think we're on the right track. Magazines have been coming out saying that they won't do excessive photoshopping, or that they won't use models who are too thin. It's a step in the right direction and I couldn't be more pleased. Then there are role models in Hollywood who are more real than starlets have been in the past. Not only Kristen Stewart, but people like Jennifer Lawrence (I think I've heard her talk about peeing in every interview she's had) or Emma Stone. 

I actually think Emma summed up what I hope everyone one day sees. She said, "But that you’ll continue to harness your own originality and what makes you unique 'cause I know that when you’re a teenager — sometimes when you’re an adult — what sets you apart can sometimes feel like a burden and it’s not. And a lot of the time, it’s what makes you great. "

Emma. You're awesome. 

And so are you guys. So make sure you embrace it. 

**All views and opinions are that of the author's**