Miss Representation

Steph and I will be attending a screening of Miss Representation at our local library. I heard of this movie through OWN and saw about the first 20 minutes of it. The topic of how women are portrayed in the media is something that we have discussed for years. Actually since college. We have noticed how much worse it is now more then ever and how every year it seems to continue getting worse with more and more exploitation of women. The fact is Hollywood is predominently run by men so naturally sexualizing women on screen is common. Women are shown with less and less clothing and often none at all when there is no need for it except to attract the male viewer.

We are excited to see this movie because honestly we thought all these years we were alone in our views. It seems no one else seems to be bothered by the portrayal of women in the media and we feel like we were the abnormal prudes that find it offensive, disgraceful, embarassing and unneccessary. Honestly I am embarassed for the girls that star in Hollywood that show it all and conduct adult relations on screen and don't know how they can feel comfortable having friends and family and the rest of the World seeing all their Worldly goods. A local celebrity, Chloe Savigny, had a very explicit scene in an independent movie and I always wondered how she could face her parents. This is a very conservative, affluent town and although she defends this graphic scene by the fact that she had dated the actor/director prior to the movie so it was easy for her to do, but what about the fact that it is now on film forever and her family, friends, and someday children and their friends may see this.
We will report back on the screening and recommend watching "Miss Representation". You may still be able to catch it on OWN or look for or request a local screening at your library or theater.

Jan

Mini-Workout---Used by Audrina Patridge, Reality Star.

Today is the start of another stressful week.  I have stress at work and my sister and I have had a recent falling out, hopefully things will work out but right now I just can't deal with any more negativity!  One thing that helped me overcome my stress was a quick workout.  Just four moves from Jarett DelBene, who's client's include Lauren Conrad and Audrina Patridge.

It is quick and intense.  Jarett suggests doing it two or three times a week. First shadow box or jump rope for 3 minutes.  Then do 20 reps of each of the following moves:

1. "Cat Raise"  Get in plank position with elbows and forearms on mat. Then pull in adominals and lift your hips up into a cat like position and then hold for 2 counts and return to plank position and repeat. Great for a stronger core.  Also, works shoulders and chest.

2."Cross-Legged Lift"  Lie faceup with legs extended over hips. Bend right knee, crossing right foot over left thigh.  Keeping left leg straight.  Slowly take legs down to 45 degrees or even lower if you can. Repeat and switch legs. Great for abs.

3. "Compound Crunch" lie faceup with hands behind head" Bring head and knees into a curl, elbows touching knees.  Slowly extend legs and upper body back down and repeat. Great for abdominals.

4. "Offset Bridge" lie faceup with right knee bent, right foot on the ground and then bring left leg up in the air.  Lift your hips up into bridge position with left leg up and pulse.  Repeat and then switch legs. Great for abs, legs and butt.

This mini-workout helps relieve stress and helps you to achieve that toned body you always wanted!

Steph

Source: Shape Magazine

CBS and Janet Jackson Win Fight over Wardrobe Malfunction. Can We Expect More Lude, Crude Behavior?

CBS triumphed over the "wardrobe malfunction" incident where Justin Timerberlake tore off a piece of Janet Jackson's dress during the Superbowl halftime show. I am offended that CBS and Janet Jackson are not being penalized for this obvious, intentional incedent that created a huge publicity hype for Janet Jackson. It tells other performers that pushing the envelope and conducting themselves inapporpriately is worth doing since it gets them massive media coverage and they bear no consequence, no penalties or fines for their behavior. Each time an inappropriate act or lude behavior is found acceptable it diminishes the ever so small line of what is now considered unacceptible until eventually people start to view it as acceptable. Until someone else attempts to push the envelope again and thus we continue to become unsensitized to rude, crude, and lude behavior.

I was probably more liberal before I had children, although I was always uncomfortable with sex and sexualization of women in the media, but now the relaxed laws and excessive sexual images and the acceptance of such things concerns me for my children and the kind of World they will grow up in.

So rather then then making a statement by upholding a fine for this, in my view, non-accidental warbdrobe malfunction so that others don't try to copycat, to be sure that networks take action to ensure this type of incident does not happen again and to show the artists that this will not be tolerated, it shows them that it's all well and good to go ahead and do something crazy because there will be no consequence.

I don't believe that a family event should be the place for artists to be able to do whatever they want and they should be responsible to their audience and children.

So now I wonder what's next and hope that at some point someone will take responsibility. I guess we can expect more lude, crude behavior ahead.

Jan

Clothing--Seductive Vs. Conservative

I was shopping in the mall the other day with my 11 year old daughter and suprisingly enough (ha..ha..)there was another girl about her age wearing close to nothing!  I usually in this day and age hardly even notice that some girl is walking by us half naked but this girl was wearing shorts that were not much bigger than the width of a band-aid and a shirt that came up so high that it barely covered her chest!  She was also using crutches because she had a broken leg. She was getting quite alot of stares.  I couldn't believe that her mother would let her leave the house looking like that.  I told my daughter, "You will never be able to wear an outfit like that!"  She laughed.  Luckily, my daughter is not only beautiful, but she is exceptionally bright and athletic and would never have to be half naked to finally get noticed!

To my suprise a man over heard me speaking of this scantily clothed girl and  agreed with me!  He said "I would never let my daughter leave the house wearing that!  I am so proud of my daughter, she is attending Boston University and doing well!" It was so refreshing to hear a man was offended to see a girl half naked in a mall.  It is so great to see that there is still men out there that agree that women should respect themselves more than that, and keep their clothes on!

I have to admit that I am liberated, I am not a women who wears turtle necks and long sweat pants to hide myself.  I like to dress up in fashionable clothes and look attractive and feminine but with class and tact.  I love clothes, jewelry, high heels, makeup and all that girly stuff.  I usually have to give my daughter fashion advice because I know the lastest styles better than her. She always asks me how I am so good at putting fashions together and making everything flow together so nicely. I want her to be in style, and fit in, but I still refuse to let her wear some of the clothes that the girls wear that are quite revealing and seem too mature and sexy for an 11year old girl.  I want her to always dress with class and there is no need to display yourself like a piece of meat.

Truly sexy and beautiful women can get away with wearing an ordinary pair of jeans and a sweater and their sex appeal can still shine through.  So to all the single women out there, keep your clothes on, it might be harder to get the attention that your longing for, but when you do you might find that "diamond in the rough" a nice guy that loves your soul.

Steph

last quote: Nickelback song

Fashion for Girls - Too Sophisticated for 6

I went to Kohls today to buy some clothes for my 6 year old daughter. I like to buy a size up for shirts and sweatshirts and that meant that I got bumped out of the toddler and little girl section to the big girl section. I was startled at this realization that we've just entered into the big girl section. I had a lot of mixed emotions. I was sad and missed my little girl with cute, little girl clothes. Lady bugs, flowers and butterflies.

As I entered into the bigger girl section I was faced with a lot more sophisticated fashions and I have to tell you, I am compeletly not ready for that. I walked around and found nothing that I wanted to see my daughter wearing. I did pick up a couple sweatshirts. But the dresses and shirts and skirts were a little tough to absorb. I went back to the girls section to buy a size 6x dress. I like her at 6 being dressed in cute, girly clothes. Even the formal wear and party dresses are cute. The bigger kid clothes are much more refined and too sophisticated.

I think the "tween" years should scale back on the sophisticated clothing and remember that these are young girls. Let's keep them looking young and innocent and not dress them to look older. Let them enjoy being a girl and not worry so much about being fahionable. My daughter loves dressing up and being fashionable but I don't want that turning into sexy outfits or her being worried about being in fashion. What really worries me is that she probably would be attracted to these clothes. But I feel like it's my job as a parent to be sure she does not wear anything too grown up. When kids get older it's natural to want to be in fashion, but in elementary school, who cares and why should they? Elementary school is about having fun not being worried about looking good and impressing others, especially boys. We as parents should not buy our 6 and 7 year old daughters clothes that make them look older. I want to keep my little girl a little girl.

Jan

"Inside Job"-- Matt Damon

I can't sleep after seeing the documentary "Inside Job", by Charles H. Ferguson and narrated by Matt Damon, on the downfall of our global economy! It sickens me that the downfall of our economy has been caused by greedy, immoral and selfish men that have no regard for anyone except themselves!

Before you ever discuss the economy or how Wall Street and Washington are run, I suggest that you watch this movie. It scares me that these men that are in power are so corrupt. There is not an ounce of moral fiber in their body.

The movie is based on facts and most of  these men refused to be interviewed. We all know that politicians are dishonest and just say what they believe will buy them enough votes to get into office and do not follow through on half of what they promised, in this movie you will get a more clearer picture of how things in this world really run and understand why we are in a recession.

Basically the movie depicts how the men on wall street and Washington took advantage of the American public and continued to make money off of people defaulting on their mortgage in fact they wanted people to default on their loans so they could make more money. It is time that the American people take a stand. The men involved should be punished. Nobody is doing anything about it.

It will be a long time before we get back on track and we might never if we don't  make changes on who is running this country, the powerful men in Wall Street and public office. Abe Lincoln must be turning over in his grave to see the kind of men that run this country today. The bottom line is that this country is lacking moral fiber. The lack of morals that I see in today's society is what's going to be our downfall. It is time that men start taking accountability for what they do. As Christie Brinkley said to Ladies Home Journal about today's society "It's an epidemic of male narcissism gone wild!"

Steph

Joining Forces - Supporting Military Families

I was watching Oprah Winfrey on the OWN network and heard about Joining Forces, an initiatieve to support military families started by First Lady Michelle Obama and Jill Biden.

My town has an affordable homes located on property that was once the Fitch Home for Soldiers. It was the first home for soldiers ever in the country and was blessed by President Abraham Lincoln. The homes provided temporary housing for veterans returning from war.

Currently the housing authority wants to redevelop the property and in doing so will pave over the Fitch Home for Soldiers Parade Ground and move the monument to another location on the property.

I am trying to save the Parade Ground, including starting a petition in 2010, and additionally assign 10% of the new units in the redevelopment to veterans as a way to pay homage to the original intent of the property.

I have struggled for the past 5 years to have a voice in this project but the residents and neighbors have been steamrolled by the housing authority and officials in Town who approve of this project due to political pressure and fear of 8-30g, a bill that allows developers higher density in building projects if they include 10% of units as affordable in towns with less then 10% affordable housing. Since this town has less then 10% and an "8-30g preditor" in town, pushing this through even if it is not the best plan for the property, resident and neighbors, will save the NIMBYs in town.

I will continue to fight for a better plan that honors the original intent of the property and preserve its historical heritage and include veterans in the resident make-up.

Please visit Joining Forces to learn more about the initiative and how you can help military families.

If you would like to help in the fight to save the Fitch Home for Soldiers Parade Ground, please sign the petition, visit and like my Facebook page, or send an email to stephandjanblog@gmail.com.

Thanks.
Jan