HaHaHa-HaHaHo-Ouch

This past week I have tried two different "exercises"-laughter yoga and kickboxing. I have been embarking on a journey of fun and trying new things. I had not heard of laughter yoga until about two weeks ago when I was perusing a yoga magazine in the checkout line at Sprouts. I thought to myself "what is this amazing sounding thing?!" and I immediately went home and looked it up. I have not found anything in the area really that I could join and the few at home videos I've found were a little too pricey for me (I'm not made of money!). But I did find a pretty fun video on Youtube! As I did this video in my living room, my dog thought I had lost my mind, my roommate took a secret Vine of me to share with the world, and my boyfriend had no idea what was going on. But let me tell you, it was a LOT of fun! I can see how it is a good way to relieve stress. And I actually find myself laughing a little more after.

Check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWXpVcS3JmQ

Now boxing I have wanted to do for a long time. I bought gloves and everything a couple of years ago, but I haven't really gotten to use them as much as I would like. I really like punching things! I had heard about Title Boxing Club in Edmond, but I had been too afraid to go because I normally don't like going to things by myself or making a general fool out of myself. However, I just happened to be looking them up when I stumbled upon a Groupon for a two week membership. It was a sign that I shouldn't put it off any longer! This year I have vowed to myself to try more things that scare me and to not be afraid to do things by myself. I finally got to really put my gloves to good use! Everyone at the club was really nice and encouraging and I am super sore. And better! No stress. I felt free as a bird after the class and I even felt like running a little (I do not run, people. Ever. If I'm running, something is chasing me). I definitely recommend taking a class. It's a great workout!

Wild and Free

This week I read Wild by Cheryl Strayed. I bought it because I saw a link on Facebook to a lot of good books that were being turned into movies and it sounded very interesting to me. I was not disappointed. This book made me want to get out and hike! Cheryl (I can call her Cheryl because I feel like I know her now) was so descriptive and captivating. I literally felt like I was on the trail with her. In intense moments my breath was ragged, I would be worried. I felt so inspired by this book. And although I have not really seen much of this region, I could see it in my mind so clearly. So beautifully.

This book also made me think a lot about my own life. I want to try new things. I want to be braver. The whole time I was reading, I was fondly recalling my short backpacking trip with my dad when I was younger. That was so much fun. We didn't get to go all the way up the mountain, but the views were beautiful. I can remember that we camped by a small stream that ran along a meadow. My dad spent so many weeks walking during his lunch at work carrying a backpack weighed down with various things. The thought makes me smile, but it also makes me really admire him.

I have every intention of searching the garage to find the camping and backpacking stuff because this summer holds the possibility for adventure! This book was a perfect pick for a winter month, because though I cannot (well I could, but no) go outside and do these things right now, I got to feel like I did from the comfort of my own bed. I recommend to anyone who like memoirs, outdoors, or memoirs about the outdoors. :-) Happy week to you all.

Friday..Friday...

"Friday" by Rebecca Black. My friend encouraged me to review this song to see if I could keep to my promise to only say nice things. Here goes!

For one thing, this song is so very catchy. I play it for my coworkers often on Friday to get us all in the spirit of the weekend! Also, this song does a lot to teach people the days of the week. And the order they go in! And she provides a great example of starting the day off right with BREAKFAST. She's gotta have her bowl of cereal before she is ready to leave for the day.

About Rebecca herself, she has very nice hair. It's so straight and such a nice color. It looks good with all of her outfits in the video. Also, I think it's nice of her to always debated with herself on which seat she should take in the car so none of her friends are put out. Isn't that so considerate? She's could just be running out to the car yelling "Shot Gun!" and make her BFF Stephanie have to move away from her crush or something. But no, not Rebecca. She has to consider which seat to take on multiple occasions.

If you don't know what I'm talking about, here's a link to the video (hopefully it will work better for you than it did for me): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfVsfOSbJY0

That's all I have for this week. If you have something you'd like for me to review, please comment below!

There are two times I have sat in a theater after a movie and spoken the words “Perfect was movie”. That was when I saw The Silver Linings Playbook and About Time. This movie came close to getting that same praise. I didn't know that Ben Stiller also directed this movie until I was sitting in it and I think he did a great job. It made me want to make friends with him—and I can honestly say I've never thought that before.

 This was a perfect movie to see on New Year's Eve because it embodies a spirit of adventure and living life to the fullest. A couple of things I put on my resolution list this year were to learn how to rock climb and tight rope walk. I want to grab adventure to. A cute, clumsy Walter Mitty made me believe that I can. You don't have to be any certain kind of person to embrace what life has to throw at you. You just have to say yes.

 There were some comical moments in the movie—most of them coming from Walter's day dream sequences. The Benjamin Button dream had us all in stitches. I enjoyed his dreams, but I liked seeing that he grew out of them once he started to live in the real world and take chances. Kristin Wiig was adorable and funny as always. And I really liked her hair that color!

 Sean Penn's character was by far my favorite in the movie. He had a spirit I wish I had and am striving to achieve. In the movie, he plays a fantastic photographer who Ben Stiller's character chases all over the globe to find. He finally finds him in the mountains of ungoverned Afghanistan tracked an elusive snow leopard. When the moment finally comes where he has the chance to snap a picture he doesn't take it. Why? He explains that sometimes you just have to live in a moment like that, without distractions like the camera. Wow!

 Finally, I liked the returning theme of the Life Magazine motto: “To see things thousands of miles away, things hidden behind walls and within rooms, things dangerous to come to, to draw closer, to see and be amazed.” These words showed up in various parts of the screen as Walter was starting to take off on his adventure. I thought that was beautifully done and very inspiring. I look forward to Ben Stiller directing more “serious” movies in the future!