#89 Go to summer camp

Attawaytogo: the motto of the summer camp I attended for 11 years (but we’ll get to that in a bit).

Camp Longhorn camper enjoying one of the many waterslides

I know that Holley already posted about working at a summer camp, but I had to add my two cents about attending summer camp. Unless we have a large young blog viewership, I guess this really goes out to adults who might eventually have kids and eventually consider sending them to a summer camp…

 

Camp Longhorn boy campers sailing on Inks Lake in Burnet, Texas

 

My piece of advice: SEND YOUR CHILD TO SUMMER CAMP! I say this because I believe I would not be the person who I am today if it weren’t for Camp Longhorn. (which by the way isn’t connected to UT – the camp founder “Tex” was a big UT swimmer & coach)

You know the posters you see that say, “Everything I need to know I learned in kindergarten”? Well, that’s how I feel about the lessons I learned through going to camp every summer for my entire childhood (and then young adult life as a counselor). There is no doubt in my mind, and it has been shown in national studies, that children will turn out more well-rounded, adjusted, mature, outgoing, able to live with others well, etc. when exposed to summer camp situations. Not to mention, the network of friends you will create after attending summer camp for awhile is beyond comprehension! It is kind of a joke among my friends who didn’t attend Camp Longhorn that it’s a cult because once two people start playing the Camp Longhorn name game and reminiscing, the rest is history. I have run into people who went to my same camp all over the world – literally when I’ve been abroad I’ve met fellow CLHers.

 

Camper riding horses at the Indian Springs location of CLH

The point is not what camp you go to, but that you go. Children and youth need to learn what it’s like to be away from home, get along with children they’ve never met before, be forced to be physically active and learn various sports and games, face challenges and have some good old-fashioned fun. My first year at camp, away from my parents for three weeks at age 9, I got really homesick and hated it for half of the term. It was the best experience though because I had to get through it, ended up having a great rest of the term and went back for 10 more years (I would still be going to camp if I could)!

p.s. In a completely unrelated topic, if you’re a horns football fan – then you should be excited about this latest development!

#76: Write a postcard!

As strange as it sounds, there are many people our age who haven’t ever sent a postcard, or if they have, it was back in the 5th grade while away at summer camp. I know, snail mail is so out, but there’s nothing like receiving a tangible piece of correspondence in the mail!

When my now fiancé went away to the Naval Academy for boot camp the summer before our respective freshman years in college, the only contact we were allowed to have was through snail mail. I have a huge box of our letters to each other, and it’s going to be something we treasure forever!

So, my challenge to you is to go send three postcards. Why not buy some really nifty ones like this from Etsy (support an artisan!) or scour Ebay for some awesome vintage cards from back in the day. When you’re done, add some cool stamps like the Eames stamps the US Postal Service is selling right now. Send it off, and expect the favor to be returned soon!

#75 Try Tofurkey

For picky eaters, the approaching holiday season can be an exciting, yet terrifying time. If you aren’t a big fan of meat, nuts, or vegetables (like myself) then you may be… um… screwed. Is it just me, or have any of you left the Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner table, and then proceeded to the nearest fast food restaurant to grab some french fries and a coke?

My mom and dad just tell me that I “don’t know how to appreciate fine dining.” Whatever. I usually try to make a meal out of some of the sides like macaroni and cheese, sweet potatoes and marshmallow casserole (hold the nuts please), and homemade rolls.

When I was in high school, my parents introduced me to tofurkey in an attempt to end my fast food trips after holiday dinners. In essence, it’s a loaf of tofu (soybean protein) with stuffed with bread or grains flavored to taste like real stuffing and turkey. I think it’s pretty good… it tastes better than a real turkey in my opinion. You may even like it if you aren’t a huge tofu fan.

So, chances are if you are a picky eater, you aren’t in to trying new things. BUT… really people, anything’s got to be better than McDonalds! Also, there are tons of health benefits to eating tofu. Click here to find out where to buy a tofurkey near you, or here to make your very own deep fried tofurkey (my personal favorite)! Whether you end up liking it or not, I promise you that substituting that same old, boring holiday bird for a trendy tofurkey will make for some lasting holiday memories! Enjoy!

 

 

PS: If you have nothing else to do, check out this great educational video on tofurkey!! 

#72 Be a Secret Santa

I know it’s a little early for the holiday season, but heck! 95.5 is definitely already playing the classics and all the major stores have already released their holiday commercials! I don’t know about you all, but I’ve already broken out all of my winter clothes and am just anxiously awaiting the “cold!” And by cold in Texas, I mean the 50s and low 60s.  I also bought a glade plug  in with the apple cinnamon scent, and all of my roommates’ stockings are hanging on our entertainment center!

My cute festive mom making pumpkin bread for one of the nights!

Anyways, this is something that was done to my mom a few years back and she has made a tradition every year since. Basically, you choose a recipient to place anonymous gifts on their doorstep every night before Christmas. Mom likes to do it the 12 days before Christmas, so she can sing the song EVERY night, semi- torturing my sister and me. Then, she will make up a riddle that has 12 parts to coincide with each gift. She will cut each part so she can attach them to the gift of the night.

The gifts don’t have to be anything lavish at all! They can be funny holiday socks, or 7 snickers for the seventh night, 8 candy canes, cookies, homemade ornaments etc. It’s a rush when you have to go to the house at night and place something on the door, and basically do a ring-and-run. Mom gets a kick out of this! It’s just really fun when you are expecting something and knowing that someone is thinking of you every day, it really gets those holiday spirits going!

And if you don’t take part in the whole Christmas thing, that’s okay! It can be for Hannukah, Kwanzaa, or  just a nice gesture around the time, or any other time for that manner.

So, go ahead and start thinking of your “victim” and just be as anonymous as possible! This is just a fun way to celebrate the giving part of the season! I’ve added a video from youtube that my roommates showed me the other night and it really got me excited, especially since it’s from Robert Earl Keen! Hope you enjoy!

Happy Holidays y’all!

#68 Relieve stress with online puppies

What do you do when you feel stressed out? Perhaps you like to go out and exercise, hang out with friends, meditate, shop, get a massage. You may enroll in a stress reduction program, something like what the University of Massachusetts Medical School offers. Even like Malorie you may like to wander out into the countryside and feel alive away from the city.

But I just found the perfect stress-reliever that sits right on your computer screen: puppies.
Vodpod videos no longer available.

more about “Shiba Inu Puppy Cam, Ustream.TV: Tune…“, posted with vodpod

 

It’s been written many times that owning pets can have a great, positive impact on your health. Well, now you don’t have to own one. You can visit this site and watch puppies all day, from the comfort of your own home, office or classroom, wherever you might be. Just pop open a new window and arrange your desktop so that the puppies are visible while you’re working on another application, and you’ll feel the results in no time.

These six Shiba Inu puppies, 3 males and 3 females, are 5 weeks old and have become quite the celebrities. At different points in time they have had from 12,000 to 17,000 viewers logged on at the same time.

Aside from the fact that they’re cute as pie, they’re alive! They’re moving! They’re playing with each other, doing normal puppy-like things. It’s such a great reminder that our problems are often smaller than we make them, that we’re on Earth to love what we do and one another, just like you’d love these puppies if you have them in front of you.

Namasté

#66 Volunteer, DUH!

Growing up as with parents from the baby boom generation, the virtues of volunteerism and philanthropy were instilled in me from an early age. We’ve always volunteered with our church, and my grandmother is a volunteer for Meals on Wheels and More. In high school, I was involved in an organization entitled YIP (youth in philanthropy) as apart of the Peer Assistance and Leadership program. Most of the volunteer work I have done has involved children, but as I get older, I have learned the value in volunteering and spending time with the elderly. My organization, Texas POM, has taken a page out of my grandmother’s book and picked up a route for Meals on Wheels in east Austin. Check out what Aubrey, my team member, and I have to say about volunteerism: 

So, I have a small obsession with quotes. Here goes another one: There are two ways of spreading light – to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.  -Edith Wharton,Vesalius in Zante

#62: Write A Fan Letter…to Dane Cook

Here is my letter to the funniest man alive, Dane Cook.

Vodpod videos no longer available.

more about “Write A Fan Letter…to Dane Cook“, posted with vodpod

I referenced this post about being a Russian for a day in my video.

#58 Work at a Summer Camp

Check out the video below or go here to see it on YouTube.

If you like the music on my video it’s by Matt Wertz.  Go here for more.

#57 Enter a Pageant

Ok guys,

You may think this one is a little gendered, BUT, there are pageants for dudes out there! A quick Google search returned over 700,000 results… and those were just the English pages! In the states, there are hundreds of pageants for females, and you need more than just beauty to win.

The Miss America pageant is arguably the most popular and well respected pageant circuit for women in the states. It’s more than a “beauty” pageant. These women are competing in the following areas: talent, personal interview, evening wear, and swimsuit. The winner, first runner up, and second runner up all receive scholarships to pursue their platform: “an issue about which she cares deeply and that is of relevance to our country” (as the Miss America website defines it).

There are also pageants in the college arena. Last year, I entered the Miss Black and Gold pageant put on by the brothers of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated. Get this… I actually won! I was awarded a $1,000 scholarship to pursue my platform (heart disease) in the black community, specifically.

Myself and some girlfriends right after I was crowned Miss Black & Gold 2008

Through the whole experience, I learned so much about myself. I learned poise, public speaking skills, confidence, and even some secrets of self promotion! The brothers of the fraternity became like real brothers to me, and my fellow pageant mates became like sisters. We spent about 10-15 hours together each week for about 2 months prior to the pageant in preparation. This is one experience that I will tell my kids about when I grow up. It has shaped my college experiences as well.

Surprised much?

So I was obviously an awkward mix between shocked and excited when I won. Seeing how proud my parents, friends, and the brothers were of all of us was probably the best reward in the end. I think everyone should go through an experience like this. Maybe not a scholarship pageant, but we all need a little confidence boost. We need an arena to put ourselves out there in front of people, show ’em what we’ve got, and see what happens…

For me, 2 dozen roses, a Swarovski crystal tiara, $1,000 in scholarship money, and priceless memories made this pageant completely worth it!

#50 Be Open Minded

If there’s one thing that I’ve learned from attending school at UT, it’s that diversity is a beautiful thing.  Our campus and the city of Austin is overflowing with people of all different races, religions, backgrounds, ethnicities, and beliefs.  And it keeps things interesting!

I even did my own little analysis once on this topic.  When I was in high school, my parents and I took a road trip one Saturday for Explore UT.  I remember seeing so many people who were different from me and I remember being really comfortable with it.  I mean, it wasn’t something that made me take a step back and go “whoa, you’re not like me.”  In my eyes we were all connected because we were all prospective UT students. 

However, on the trip home my family and I stopped for dinner in College Station (because on the trip home, C.S. has the best choices of restaurants).  While in the restaurant, I noticed that everybody pretty much looked the same.  The girls wore the same style of clothes, their hair was all perfectly straightened the same way, the guys all wore Abercrombie or Hollister polos and (of course, how could an aggie go without) a dirty a&m cap.  And I remember being a little disgusted with the monotony of the people there, and I know I told my parents that one of the reasons I loved UT and Austin was because you would not find cookie-cutter people there. (now i’m not saying that everybody in C.S. or a&m is the same, but it’s close…it’s definitely not Austin)

Although I’m from a small East Texas town with whites being the majority of the population, coming to UT and Austin wasn’t the culture shock that some people thought it would be for me.  I credit this to having an open-mind, and I think it’s something some people could use a little more of. 

To me, having an open mind doesn’t mean weakening one’s belief system.  It means that I can be tolerant of another’s beliefs, lifestyles, religion, etc.  I may not agree with it, but that doesn’t give me permission to condemn someone else for it.  In the end, I think having an open mind allows us to all to get along better- more peacefully if I do say so myself.  Our time on this earth is short anyway, why should we waste it bickering about things we can’t change about each other and instead work on the things we can change. Together.