Musical Monday: Successful

"Successful" by Drake and Trey Songz (click here to hear)

When you can't pay your bills, you start to daydream about all of the things you wish you could experience. Just under a week ago, I filled out one of those California Super Lotto forms for my friend, Jon. What was the jackpot? I don't even know, but it had me thinking... What would I do if I won the Lotto? I know for a fact that I wouldn't feel successful at all, I would just feel rich. Success is different from money. Although, money sure helps with success. Success to me will be when I get passed the MCAT, passed the white coat ceremony, and passed the hours upon hours in the library. Heck, success will be when I wake up knowing I made some sort of impact. But, in order to accomplish this I will need some sort of financial backing (yay for student loans). Let me tell you this though--my brain is all over the place since I spent nearly seven hours straight just studying organic chemistry and thinking about winning the Lotto to take all of my closest family and friends on a trip around the world. Organic chemistry makes me daydream. I know that it'll be worth it in the end, but some days just make you wonder... What would you do if you won the Lotto?

Hopping in Heaven

RIP Lady. I hope you are hopping with Benji and S'mores in a field full of vegetables.

Musical Monday: I'm Movin' On

"I'm Movin' On" by Rascal Flatts (click here to hear!)

When I think about my life, there are things in the past that I wish I hadn't done or said or thought. There are actions that I wish I could change in order for things to be "better" now. BUT! Then I think about who I am today. I can't really regret anything that I have done or said or thought because it has all helped shape who I am now. I do believe that things happen for a reason. As Shayna and Amanda are always telling me, "It will all work out in the end. If it hasn't worked out, then it's not the end." Moving on...

The art of sexy

With People Magazine celebrating their 25^th year of providing a whole issue to sexy men (oh hey, Ryan Reynolds), I felt it necessary to ask the question, “What is sexy?” And more specifically, “What makes a man sexy?”

Of course you have to take into account that each individual is just that, an individual. What you find sexy may no be what I find sexy. I did a whole presentation on the art of love and attraction where I discussed specific chemicals in the brain, mainly Oxytocin and Vasopressin, which made you feel aroused, stimulated, and overjoyed throughout various stages of love ranging from lust to companionate love. Each person has specific levels, and blah, blah, blah… science, science, science. I won’t bore you with the details (insert picture of attractive men to keep attention of readers).

So what do you find sexy? What makes you attracted to another person? If someone tells you that looks don’t matter, then they are lying. Looks matter. A person can seem more or less attractive as reinforced by a personality. I think it’s safe to say that if a guy can’t carry a conversation, then you most likely will not be interested in him. If he can’t make you laugh, you will most likely be bored.

As a nerd, I have been told by many that I am most attracted to Jock Nerds. I like smart, intellectually challenging guys who I can run around throwing some sort of ball on some sort of field. I like a guy who has a mean trigger finger for a first person shooter, but can still throw a football. A guy who will argue about who would win a fight between Wolverine and Spiderman-- now that’s what I call nerdy hot!

If you ask most women they will say that a man must be able to make her laugh. I would agree, laughter adds to the art of sexy. Take Vince Vaughn—he’s hot because he can make you laugh (and he’s a giant). He’s money… so money (Swingers, anyone?). Why do you think so many chick flicks are romantic comedies—it’s because women want to be swept off their feet and flung into a life of happiness. Happiness is associated with smiling and smiling is associated with laughter.

I would also add that a man must have passion. If a man is passionate about something specific, then it is likely that they will be passionate within a relationship.

Also, nothing is more endearing than a man who can fix up some of your favorite foods paired with a fabulous glass (or two) of wine.

Above all, the art of sexy is confidence. A confident man is not the same as a pretentious, cocky asshole. A man who is not afraid of making a fool of himself is sexy. A man who is not afraid to stand up for what he believes is sexy. A man who is not afraid to protect his loved ones is sexy. The quiet confidence is sexy.

So what makes a guy sexy?

1. Confidence

2. Passion

3. Laughter/Comedy

4. Humbleness

5. Athleticism

6. Intelligence

7. Charm/Charisma

8. Looks

9. Cooking Skills

10. Mystery 

A Letter

What I Know Now: Letters to My Younger Self (an excerpt)

Dear Madeleine,

You will get through this fog and uncertainty--and you'll do it in the best possible way. You won't become cynical, stoical, or hard-bitten over the loss you're feeling. Over the next ten years, you'll rebuild and reinvent yourself, finding success--and tremendous satisfaction.

The truth is, you've got the guts to find your own purpose and the integrity to fulfill it on your own terms. Your parents taught you to strive to achieve all you can, with the gifts that you have. Now you're about to direct those gifts toward finding your voice and using it to serve your country in ways that will surprise you.

When your students ask you how you have managed to be married and have children and work at the same time, you feel like a phony because you think you haven't succeeded at that. It's hard to feel qualified as a role model. But you are.

It will take years before you realize that you already are a good role model. But ultimately you'll inspire far more women than you'd ever predict. Twenty-three years from now when women say that they're choosing a career in international relations, the thing you'll enjoy most is telling them that there is no formula, that everybody must choose their own path.

With confidence,

Madeleine Albright

Former Secretary of State

Operation Beautiful

Although I do like to joke around and be sarcastic pretty much every minute of my life, this is actually something I thought was seriously worth sharing. Many of you have probably already heard of this, but I want to encourage everyone out there reading this to participate in OPERATION BEAUTIFUL.

All you have to do is write something inspirational on a post-it and put it somewhere random. You don't have to take a picture of it, you don't have to write the operationbeautiful.com site on it, just write something and post-it somewhere. EVERY WOMAN SHOULD BE REMINDED THAT SHE IS BEAUTIFUL JUST THE WAY GOD MADE HER. I suggest putting it on some random item at the grocery store. Brighten someone's day, and spread the love. 

I am only friends with beautiful people (it's true). Some people may think it's shallow, but I just think it's fate. For any guy reading this, remind some special woman out there, whether it be your mom, sister, wife, girlfriend, random hook up from last night, or WHOEVER, that she is beautiful. AND! feel free to participate (I bet you'll scores some digits) and leave a post-it somewhere to inspire women to walk with confidence.

TO ALL OF MY FRIENDS AND READERS:  YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL AND YOU ARE WORTH IT!

Growing Up: Stage II

Stage II: I have to grow up

When you turn 18, you’re supposed to be an adult. You can buy tobacco, vote, join the military, and go to jail. The moment you turn 18 you automatically have more opportunities and more choices.

I remember being so happy when I turned 18 because I was finally able to vote. In fact the first election I was able to vote in was the Kerry/Bush election (where I voted for Ralph Nader… what can I say, I was a hippie at heart). I loved that fact that my voice mattered—that my country thought I was responsible enough to have a choice. It felt powerful. It felt grown up.

If you are like me, just because you turned 18 doesn’t mean you grew up at all. I went to college and had A LOT of fun just goofing off and partying with my fellow nerds. I moved away from home and into a college town. This meant I had freedom. If I didn’t want to go to bed at midnight, I didn’t have to. If I wanted to go home with, oh, let’s see… that guy over there with the aviators and a cowboy hat, I could. If I wanted to be a cage dancer, I danced. If I had a hard exam and needed to numb the feelings of failure, I went to mojito night.

I had the opportunity to discover what I liked, and what I didn't, in college. I came to realize that I loved traveling, and hated writing papers. If it's over three pages, I don't know what to do. If it's a laboratory report, I can finish that sucker like I'm shotgunning a beer. I would like to say that I found art, but really it found me. After my first art history class, I was hooked to color field, visible brush strokes, and Spanish architecture. How a toilet is considered art still baffles me, but that's the beauty of modern art: everything is beautiful.

Unfortunately, growing up also meant that I had to figure out a career in order to be independent and off daddy’s dollar. I found this difficult as I handed out my resume out in Davis during the start of the fall of the economy. After spending weeks/months searching on craigslist and hitting the pavement by foot, I was rejected time and time again. I realized that growing up is not only difficult, but incredibly scary.

Enter: TOTAL DENIAL OF GROWING UP.

Musical Monday (Giants fans edition)

Don't Stop Believing for Giants fans (click here to hear!)

To all of my friends who are GIANTS fans, I would like to say congratulations. Although I am not a Giants fan, I can admit when good baseball has been played. Tim pitched an amazing game, and hey, everyone knows I don't like Texas seeing how they are in the same division as the A's (the single most greatest team that has ever been in existence). So, I'm happy for all of the fans, the city of San Francisco, the fact that this means that the state of California is simply better than every other place with a Major League Baseball team, and of course the team itself. I hope Tim smokes a fat J tonight with Zito. Fifty-six years is a long wait. Congratulations, Giants fans! I hope you are going all sorts of crazy. GO A'S!