Great Fact Of The Day

78% of men would rather date a confident plus-size woman than an insecure supermodel.

This is from Glamour magazine's What Men Think About Women's Bodies article, which outlines the results of their survey of 1,000 men on the topic of what they find attractive. It then says, "Let that little nugget sink in for a minute - then allow over 1,000 men to remind you why they always want to leave the lights on."

ANTM Live!

It was much anticipated - from advertisements online and on the TTC - and this past weekend, America's Next Top Model,  Live! Toronto finally came! For the month or two leading up to the event, despite following them on Twitter, signing up for newsletter style updates, and seriously exploring the website, neither Kristen nor I could figure out what the event was. Of course we bought tickets and went anyways.  Here is a run down of our experience :
-Because Word On The Street is part of Tourism Toronto, Kristen had a discount code so that we could save a bit of money on tickets.
-Given two options we paid a bit more for the VIP admission over the regular one
-Part of the appeal of the VIP admission was a swag bag, which according to the website, was to include a Pandora bracelet. Upon arrival at the event we discovered that this was an error on the part of the event company through a misunderstanding with the company.
-In general the event was not run very well. They had multiple stages but none of the scheduled shows ran on time, with one exception - the Main Stage show.
-The Main Stage show was awesome!! There were dancers that were incredible and a bunch of the contestants from the ANTM All-Stars season.
-Kristen bought sandals and I got a hair straightener - both were so much cheaper than having bought them out in the 'real world'
-We actually met some of the ANTM All-Stars and got their autographs. Kristen took some pictures so that we could send them to Taylor and her sister - who also watch the show.
-Browsed a lot of jewelry.
-It was determined that it was like a festival, trade-show, thing. Basically Word On The Street but for models.
We hope to go again next time it is in town - even though we don't fully understand the event.

The Most Supportive Person Ever

"You just have an assortment of disabilities starting with clinical depression and ADD, along with nice selection of learning disabilities, all of which you try to manage with a cocktail of medication."
-How my mother suggests I explain my issues to people

She is honestly though the most supportive person ever, which sadly still gets proven time and time again. Toronto has seen probably my longest bout of depression ever and strangely, as this was recently pointed out, my most hidden. So I think I'm at the point of talking and telling if asked but I'm not yet forthcoming about it like I have been in the past. It is sad that I have gone so underground with this - I used to be the poster girl for depression. (Not literally, though I would be willing, ANTM has taught me well.)

Tyra Says

Breath In
By Stephanie Beach Photography

Not Worth 1000 Words

Don't Make Me Write The 1000 Words This Might Be Worth
Self-Portrait Online
By Christine Sweeton

Thoughts that accompany this photo:
-Hair is curly, figured I should get a picture of it like this since it is always up or if I'm going out it is usually straightened.
-Does it look a little like I'm sucking my thumb? I wish I was right now, in bed and falling asleep. I am so tired but am up late again doing schoolwork.
-I hope this is the last time I say this, but I really can't wait until I have my big camera here or a new small one or something so that I can stop using this online program.
-Wow, I look tired! I am not one to get particularly dark circles under my eyes but it is not looking good here. I'm even wearing some make-up!
-Holding the hand up to strategically cover the two zits on my chin, however I find the effect is strange, almost disturbing.
-Show me Natalie! When will someone finally just hire me to play her sister in something?

Thoughts connected to my upcoming photo shoots with Steph:
-So excited to get in front of the camera again!
-I am going to have to work at figuring out my expressions, smile, and angles with the shorter hair and weight loss changing things up.
-My hands and nails look all pretty, Steph will be pleased.
-I need to make sure I at least get to help title some of the shots, one of my favourite parts.

My Sloth

So here is a lazy post... Go read Steph's post about SINS. Seriously, I was planning on talking about the Seven Deadly Sins and had even started drafting a post about it a few months ago. (This consisted of making a draft post entitled, Do Post On Seven Sins, and that is about it.) I love what Steph has done with this piece as she has pushed it much further than I had been planning as I think I was just going to list them and give a brief descriptor. I also think it is great that there is a small shout out to ANTM. Kristen and I are already planning on continuing the ANTM nights, and the current cycle started last week - How I love Tyra! My Links (on the Left) need a bit of review and update, but as usual I would suggest giving them a click every now and then, there is some great stuff there.

When The Dog Bites - Electronic

Favourite TV Shows
How I Met Your Mother, The Big Bang Theory, House MD, Glee, America's Next Top Model, Cougartown, 30 Rock, The Daily Show, The Colbert Report

Favourite Movies
A League of Their Own, Fifth Element, Aladdin, Labyrinth, Wag the Dog, 10 Things I Hate About You

Favourite PC Games
The Sims, World of Warcraft, NeoPet's Games

Favourite Music
Hotel California - The Eagles, Come Together - The Beatles, Starlight Express - Musical, The Phantom of the Opera - Musical, Les Mis - Musical

So Now It Is Friday

It is a bit of a sad day. Today is JennB's last day working with me. She is moving to another job in a different department starting on Monday. Luckily JennB is more then just an office friend or "work spouse" so we will still see each other often. We work out together at Curves, watch ANTM, travel together, hang out, and in May she is moving in with Jer and I for a couple of months. Still, work will be harder without her around. She is good fun. (And super cute in her Halloween costume!) I'm really sad that she is leaving. I wish her well at her new job though, change is good.
(Photo by Pat Walton)

Smizing

Thanks to Tyra Banks, the world has a new verb "smizing" which means "to smile with your eyes." This was on the last season of ANTM and everyone thought it was hilarious, Tyra is awesome. Yes, I am smizing in this picture, taken by Steph as part of her Algonquin assignment.

Rerun Time

Just when I get used to a good TV schedule it stops. I know what shows I'm watching this year, when they are aired, where and when I can find them online! This week nothing new is airing. I'm hoping that America's Next Top Model will keep going but everything else is a rerun. I don't know why they do this, I was complaining and asking if it was an election but it turns out it is probably because of The World Series. So this week I can't watch:
-House
-How I Met Your Mother
-Big Bang Theory
-Glee
-Saturday Night Live
-Private Practice
I'm quickly running out of West Wing episodes on my computer so that is making it even worse. I was saddened by all this but then remembered there were other shows I liked to watch that I hadn't started this year. That means a lot of catching up to do with:
-30 Rock
-This Hour Has 22 Minutes

Born For The 80's

Photos by Stephanie Beach

(See Link on Right for more of her photography)

Steph has an assignment for a photography class where she needs seven different shots with the same person. Different lighting, poses, clothes, setting, etc. I agreed to be her model and I swear posed for over 500 photos on Sunday. I got to delete any that I hated and I left her with 143 pictures of me, I hope she gets seven good ones. These are three from a series taken of me with lipstick, hair down, wearing a white sweater, sitting in an open door frame, therefore with natural light. Most were taken either at the park near my house or in her basement studio. This series though (which was significantly larger, but these are the ones I like best) reminds me so much of the 80's with the big hair, bright lip colour, and cream cashmere sweater. (Canada's Next Top Model here I come!! Too bad I'm too old and too short - To enter, you must be between the ages of 18-23 and at least 5'8")

Guilty Pleasure

Anna got me the third season of The Girls Next Door for my birthday. I only watch two reality TV shows and it is one of them. The competition style one I like is America's Next Top Model but the celebrity life one is The Girls Next Door. I guess I enjoy watching sexy glamorous women, I just so want to be them. The money, the fame, the frivolous activities, always looking so thin and beautiful.;I would love to be a model. The Girls Next Door follows around Hugh Hefners three girlfriends, who all live at the Playboy Mansion. The show is so addictive, I could watch it all day. The tagline on the DVD is 'We call it a fantasy. They call it home." So true, all they do it play, which is fitting seeing as they are 'Playmates'. It is just huge party after huge party, massive celebrations for all the holidays, and little costumes worn for everything. I think I want that life, I would even enjoy the odd nude photoshoot.