Forever Immortalized on Youtube.

I've talked about taking some risks with my talent this year. Maybe I should do this? It seemed to work at Miss Arizona 1993...

Another article.

Sheryl Crow was in Washington helping to lobby a bill that would provide needed funds for researching environmental factors in the development of breast cancer (most have to do with early onset of puberty, which puts a woman at greater risk).

I'm very proud that our own Senator Hatch was instrumental in the bill proposal, but it still has a little ways to go before being placed into action.

Click here to read more about the Breast Cancer and Environmental Research Act.

Great article!

This is FABULOUS! (You might have to register with NYTimes, but that's easy to do and worth it to read the article.)

One of the largest points that I try to bring across is that prevention isn't just about early detection and knowing your risks. It isn't just about ensuring that when that magical age of 35 comes, you start caring about breast health.

This article reiterates the importance of taking care of your body NOW. By staying physically active, living a healthy lifestyle, avoiding excessive alcohol (or any at all, if you can), by being cautious with hormones you place within your body (either through menopausal treatment or birth control) and understanding the importance of a self breast exam, you decrease your risk enormously. Even having children before the age of 30 and breast feeding reduce your risk. In fact, those who perform strenuous exercise for 3 or more hours every week reduce their risk by 20 %! That's all it takes!

These are easy measures to take and not only will they help you live a longer, healthier, more active life, but they will help you prevent breast cancer.

1, 2, 3...

Motivate yourself, Jen!!

Reading Frankenstein just doesn't seem all that appealing at the moment (although, I'm really beginning to like Shelley's writing style).

Ah, but I have no choice. I already missed the "free" response at the beginning of the semester.

Okay, here I go.

Meanwhile, don't you just love cloudy days? For some reason, I think I was in need of a cloudy day/we have no air conditioning right now and clouds = not quite as hot as we thought it was going to be.

it's almost here!

Warning: Don't be Offended. Also, a confession.

I may own the series, but I kind of hated Twilight (sorry Natalie and Whitney!!). It wasn't the story I hated (for I think it's highly entertaining, if not a little predictable for the chick lit/fantasy hybrid), but I can't stand the way it was written. My dad and I discussed this concept while on vacation. For whatever reason, I was compelled to read Dan Brown's Angels and Demons. After I was finished, he asked for my thoughts, and all I could say was, "Well, fun story, and entertaining, but ugh, I can't stand the way he writes!" I felt the same when reading Da Vinci Code.

The conclusion is that I'm a bit of a snob, literarily speaking. I like things to be well written, intriguing, with an exquisite vernacular that forces my mind to work, even just a little bit. Innovation is preferred as well. The truth though is that I'm easily persuaded, and if the whole world is reading it, I probably will too. When I began the Harry Potter series right before the 5th book came out, I was so pleasantly surprised to discover that I actually liked it! The story, the writing, the style, the prose, the ability to keep me completely sucked in until the last sentence had me from the beginning. This self-professed book snob actually likes juvenile literature! That's why I decided to see what all of the fuss was about.

In my humble opinion, Twilight is predictable, redundant, slow, long, obnoxious (I'm sorry!), and goes into far too much detail about a jar of spaghetti sauce being warmed up. As Anne Hathaway's character in Becoming Jane says when writing about her intense, passionate loathing of Tom, "No, too many adjectives". Perhaps, more than anything, it's just not my style.

And yet...the trailer unexpectedly made my heart skip a beat.

Oh the shame!

I suppose I will be seeing this film after all.

home sweet home!

Almost. I'll be at my apartment this evening. I had planned on running in the Susan Komen 5k this morning, but then I woke up an hour and a half ago, dizzy, lethargic, and completely lifeless.

Thank you jetlag.

It's frustrating missing this event, but I can't even stand without leaning onto something. Instead, I'll be studying and practicing all day, trying to catch up on life.

It's going to be a busy few days!

well...

it's been quite the trip so far. I've enjoyed it immensely (up until about 10:30 last evening) and we still have a few days to go. It's funny though, how comforting "home" or a sense of home can be when you are sick. All I want to do is curl up to my comforter, eat some cheap banana popsicles, and watch episode after episode of The Office until the nausea subsides.

Here's to whatever-this-is (flu or seasickness. No idea. All I know is I've gotten three different shots in my rear at an attempt to get rid of it) going away so that I can shop till I drop in Zara's tomorrow.

Hope all is well back home.