The Power of a Dance Party

I am, by no means, a dancer. Sure, I can keep a beat, but I wouldn't be invited to Dancing With The Stars even if I was Audrey Hepburn's miraculous modern-day clone. But I really like to dance. I frequently dance around my bedroom Taylor-Swift-in-the-you-belong-with-me-music-video style.

Not long ago, I was part of two spontaneous dance parties in one single week and I found a new appreciation for them. It is the sweetest release for me to just dance it out…which, in my world, means jumping around to the beat and flipping my hair around while singing along. (Dance parties are 927565 times better when you know the words, background singing, and instrumentals.) 

Whether it’s a one song jam in the car or an hour straight in mismatched sweats, my stresses fade away and I focus only on laughing with the people around me and dancing my heart out. I’m always surprised at how much and how quickly it improves my mood.

If you need to just get out of your own head, even for only 3 minutes, follow in the steps of Christina and Meredith and dance it out. I'm tellin ya, it's good for the soul. When all the grown-up things are stressing you out to the max, just let it all go. Dance around fearlessly, like no one is watching, and pretty soon you'll be laughing out loud from pure happiness. Never underestimate the power of a dance party!

Hey, it's okay!

A favorite blogger of mine, Carly from The College Prepster, did a post just like this once and I was surprisingly moved by it. It was like a reality check, where she bravely admitted that it ain’t all sunshine, lollipops and perfectly planned days. She reminded us that we’re only human, just young adults doing our best--sometimes taking it day by day--despite what our pretty Instagrams or clever tweets may portray. She inspired me, and I hope she’s okay with me following in her fearless footsteps and creating a list of my own.

                                                                                        (to not know how to pose...)

Hey, it’s okay…

to reward yourself with Chipotle for getting through that test/long work day.

to use dry shampoo two days in a row.

to look funny in a picture.

to laugh out loud at Friends.

to pay for a Frosty with coins only.

to dance around the apartment.

to get excited over a sunset.

to miss your family.

to change into sweats the minute you get home, even though you’ll have to change again in an hour.

to go to the mall and not spend a dime.

to have a messy room sometimes.

to daydream.

Next time you want to hide your face for doing something like the things above, just tell yourself, “Hey, it’s okay!” Keep giving your best. You're doing better than you think.

What would you add to this list? Let's be brave together!

Welcome to the 90s, Mr. Banks!

I realize I did not experience as much of the 90s as many of you, but I’d like to think I sorta make up for lost time by loving its movies. I’m a bit of a rom-com snob, and the 90s gave us some of the greats. Julia Roberts and Richard Gere charmed us with their chemistry at both the beginning and end of the decade. The camera loved Meg Ryan, her versatile locks, and her set pajamas. Even Diane Keaton and Steve Martin made us all cry the sweetest tears. These films showcased good old-fashioned flirting and romance. You’ve Got Mail proved it was after my own heart when it effortlessly combined Tom Hanks, New York City, flowers, and mail. If it weren’t for Pretty Woman, I would not know the Prince song “Kiss” (I just stopped writing for a good minute so I could jam to that song). Notting Hill made me fall in love with Hugh Grant way more than Music and Lyrics did. And oh, that scene in Sleepless in Seattle where Rita Wilson is gushing over An Affair to Remember is so true and so me.

           

It feels like they don’t make movies like these anymore. Truly witty love stories that don’t happen all at once. They prompt happy tears and *gasp* even involve loving families, sometimes. Now it’s about “friends with benefits” or the stupid best friend who makes inappropriate jokes. What happened? Oh well, we will always have the 90s.  

Some of my very favorites:

Notting Hill (1999)

Pretty Woman (1990)

Father of the Bride (1991)

Runaway Bride (1999)

Sleepless in Seattle (1993)

You’ve Got Mail (1998)

IMDb

That’s Internet Movie Database. AKA the most loved app on my phone. If you don’t have this app, give it a whirl and see what you’ve been missing! I take full responsibility for your new addiction. It’s worth it. You can look up a movie, documentary, TV show, actor, director, producer, soundtrack…you name it. In searching for a person, IMDb will show you their entire career’s work in various roles in film, theater, or production. It’s like Facebook stalking a celebrity. This comes in handy when you’re watching a movie or show and think, “how old is he now, anyway?” or, “isn’t she the mom in xyz?”

I don’t exaggerate when I say I use this app (almost) every day of my life. When I go see a movie in theaters (which is only on Tuesdays, when it’s $5), I look it up on IMDb directly after and read all the trivia. I look up TV shows and Netflix movies I watch, trailers I see. Maybe that’s sad? …Nope, I don’t care.

Things I've learned through IMDb recently:

• ·         Jack O’Connell (star of Unbroken) and I have the same birthday.
• ·         The cast of “Friends”, near the end of the show, earned $1 million each, per episode, and one cast member never made more than another.
• ·         Aquamarine came out in 2006.
• ·         Julia Roberts made $15 million for Notting Hill, the same amount her character made for her last film, as she announces during a dinner scene.
• ·         The part in Pretty Woman where Richard Gere shuts the necklace case on Julia Roberts’ hand was improvised.
• ·         Chris Pine was really embarrassed about singing in front of the cast for Into the Woods, and said he held back in rehearsals because of it.
• ·         Reese Witherspoon is under 5’ 2”.
• ·         Damian Lewis, who plays Major Winters in the HBO miniseries Band of Brothers, is BRITISH! 

There is so much (superfluous) information just waiting for us! You think you’re a real fan of [insert actor’s name]? Go read their quotes and trivia on IMDb, then call yourself a genuine creep, a true supporter. Enjoy all the useless facts, and have fun impressing your friends with your uncanny familiarity with shows and celebrities.

GIRL WORLD: Spa Day at Home

Today, I’m so excited to bring you the first post of a series called Girl World. Every once in a while here at RCG, a post will come along discussing those experiences we all have where we think, “it’s a girl thing”  or “men don’t even realize how tough it is to be a girl sometimes”. Oh admit it, the latter has crossed your mind. No shame here. This series is just for you, ladies. The fellas just don’t understand sometimes, and that’s okay. Today, we think about a cliché girls day: the spa.

Oh, to have the money to be a regular at the spa. I daydream of bi-monthly facials and weekly massages…hiding away in the sauna after a stressful day…being waited on hand and foot. But they want a bunch of monies for it that are not always easy to find. So, I've listed some ideas for creating your own spa day without leaving home. I've been doing this for the past couple years, and though it is simple, it really does help me unwind and feel refreshed. Hopefully it does the same for you.

Take a long, hot shower

Shave your legs & wash your face.

Let your hair air dry

Put on your comfiest pajamas or a robe

Lotsa lotion

        Time to break out one of the seven bottles of Warm Vanilla or Sweet Pea you have lying around somewhere and use it on your legs, hands and arms. Try using a bunch of lotion on your feet, then immediately putting socks on. Your heels will feel nice and soft come morning.

Leave-in conditioner

        A little love for your locks.

Face mask or moisturizer

        Now’s the time to try out that $1 mask you've had too long. I personally love the ones that heat up a little after you put it on. It feels so luxurious!

Paint your nails

        Do you lye critol gel? Test your nail painting skills and maybe try a color you've been too nervous to wear. If you’re really terrible at painting, ask your roommate if she’ll do it.

After bath splash: Jean Naté
        I just have to put in a plug for my favorite smell, Jean Naté. It is actually called an “after bath splash”, which is strange to me, but I use it as a perfume. It’s just this clean smelling mist you can put on right when you get out of the shower to smell lovely. You can pick some up at Walgreens.

Light a candle

        If you have one, it probably doesn’t get lit often. Enjoy the scent and spa-like lighting it provides.

Load on the chapstick

        Don’t neglect your lips! You never know when that gorgeous man is gonna show up at your door and kiss the crap outta you…right? Best be prepared, anyway. Just in case.

Enjoy cocoa, ice cold diet coke, or, to be fancy, sparkling cider

        Throw some popcorn in there and you’re set. The perfect munchie.

Watch your guilty pleasure show/movie

        Real housewives? Gossip Girl? Hannah Montana? The Bachelor? Turn it on, girl. This spa day is about you!

Lots of deep breaths

This is my saving grace when I get frustrated or stressed. Take some deep breaths and feel how cleansing it can really be. Let it go, relax, and enjoy your at-home spa treatment. You've certainly earned it.

If you try this, let me know with #rcgspa on Instagram! Enjoy, ladies!

The Lunching Age

I came to a realization recently: I have reached the lunching age. Ya know, when you want to catch up with someone, or you go to your parent’s house and want to see someone from home…you don’t hang out anymore. You say “let’s have lunch.” When did that happen? That’s what moms do for visiting teaching. That’s what grandmas do with their girlfriends. That’s even what businessmen do to discuss important stuff. But not now! It seems “lunching” is actually a coming of age activity.

Well the verdict is in…I’m absolutely okay with this! If you are getting lunch with someone, you have all morning to look forward to it and the rest of the day after lunch to reflect on it (with a full stomach). You not only get to visit with a friend, but you get to eat, too. Multitaskers, rejoice!

Being part of a lovely long lunch just makes my heart smile. It’s a nice thing. I love catching up with someone, whether it’s been a week or a year. If conversation is lagging, you can always comment on the food, the waiter, or the restaurant. If it’s going so well that you wish the afternoon could last forever, you can just order another soda or indulge in dessert together.

I think we all have those friends that we see on a semi-regular basis, but we don’t actually spend much time together outside of that semi-regular activity. So it’s nice to make time in your schedules for one another now and then for a meal and life updates. You never know where your conversation may take you. In fact, a lesson you've learned in the last little while since you've seen them could be just the advice they need that day. No, it’s not that far of a stretch. We all have different stories, but at some time or another, we tend to go through a bunch of the same crap. And we can be there for each other to figure it out and come out on the other side a better version of ourselves. The quote goes, “friends pick us up when we fall down, and if they can’t pick us up, they lie down and listen for a while”…or they have lunch with you.

Don’t underestimate the mid-day meal. It can be really great, if you make the time every once in a while. Happy lunching!

Raining on Sunday

Friends, there's something you must know about me...I'm a total sucker for rainy days. They make me straight up giddy for so many reasons. 

I have a playlist exclusively for rainy weather. I have bright red rain boots and they're amazing. That puddle on campus everyone is struggling to avoid? Please. Imma strut right through it. Also, seeing another person wearing rain boots is awesome. I swear, it's like being part of a secret society. You look at their boots, then glance at their face. They do the same to you, the slightest head nod occurs, and then you're on your way. RAIN BOOT SOCIETY. Such a thing. 

             

                                             

It all just slows me down. Rainy days make me pause and look up at the ever-changing clouds. I see reflections in the wet ground. It's literally a breath of clean, fresh air. Rainy days make me want to wear my comfiest sweats, put on my fuzziest socks, pull my hair up, and make things as simple as possible.They make me thoughtful. I feel the need to sit by a fireplace and journal all my thoughts, write a letter to someone I miss, or read a book. They make me want to buy flowers right that very minute. And naturally, rainy days make me wanna cuddle up with someone or slow dance in the kitchen. They make me want to turn on jazz music and light a candle. It just gets to me. Isn't it romantic? 

To me, it feels like the world should stop and responsibilities should be put on hold when it rains. I just want to be still and take it all in. I would be content to stare out a window all day long and just watch the whole scene unfold every minute. Watch people jump puddles with their kids, see the businessman hold the newspaper above his head, grin at the couple huddled under a single umbrella. I love seeing people who don't let the rain bother them. I love it when this weather humanizes people on the bus or when they finally let out a laugh when they can't get their umbrella closed as they get on the train. I love witnessing the fall of that barrier and hearing the nervous giggles. 

It's just dreamy. Next time you get caught in the rain, try pulling out your rose colored glasses and looking again. Don't focus on the inconvenience it may cause for your newly washed car or how much your hair is frizzing up. Look around. It's all kinda beautiful.