My favorite 3 things for health

My family and I have been talking about a lot of health stuff. Here are some things on our radar:

1. The best thing you can do for your health:

It's true! the past couple weeks, I've tried to get a minimum of half an hour physical activity a everyday (ok ok. I count walking to and from the Real Salt Lake game... and walking to and from church. you need to fit it in where you can!) It makes such a difference. More for my mental health than anything else.

2. We all know that processed foods are scary. But seriously guys, they are REALLY scary. This recently trending article from the New York times will prove it to you and you'll never eat processed food again:

Click here to read it!

Actually you will eat processed foods again. Mostly in the form of Takis, In-n-Out, and Slutty Diet Cokes (2 parts diet coke mixed with 1 part slurpee).
But I think that's ok.
Every once and a while.
Right?

THEY'RE JUST SO GOOD.

3. We all gotta watch out for sugar. For reals.

This video is super long, but worth it. I learned a lot and it's all backed by SCIENCE (note: I know next to nothing about science, so take that for what it's worth). 

Bottom line: 

Eat food, not too much, mostly plants. 

And let's move. 

Pretty simple, right?

Mito cha!

Ok, "mito cha" is actually Nepalese (not Korean or Japanese), but it's pretty much the only Nepalese I remember, so I try and use it whenever I can. It means delicious :) Anyway. These videos have become a new obsession for me. So darling! It's also encouraging me to learn how to cook new things.

ooooohhhhhh

March Mix: "Sister Devine's Ciao Mix"

This one is a blast from the past. When I left on my mission, I put this mix together for friends and family to remember me by. It's quite good if I may say so myself.

1. Junior Kickstart - The Go! Team

2. Will You Return? - Avett Brothers

3. Everybody's Changing (Keane Cover) - Lily Allen

4. La Meme Histoire - Feist

5. Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want - The Smiths

6. Four Winds - Bright Eyes

7. I'll Fly Away - Kanye West

8. This Time Tomorrow - The Kinks

9. Welcome Home, Son - Radical Face

10. Girls Just Want To Have Fun - Greg Laswell

11. Crown Of Love - The Arcade Fire

12. M79 - Vampire Weekend

13. Australia - The Shins

14. Seize the Day (Chorale) - Newsies

15. Save Myself - Willy Mason

16. Heartbeats - Jose Gonzales

17. Viaje a las Montanas - Inca Son

18. The Lord Bless You and Keep You - Les Petits Chanteurs de Saint-Marc

19. Rise - Eddie Vedder

20. Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing - Sufjan Steven

 

NOTES:
1. I anticipated that this song would reflect how I would feel walking off the plane into Bolivia. I actually felt sort of the opposite. Terrified.

2. "Why can't you see yourself as beautiful as I see you"

4. I had just seen Paris Je T'aime shortly before I left on mission, and this song was featured in it. I thought it was really nice.

5. Remember New York Doll? I loved how they used this song in the movie. So fitting. If you haven't seen it yet, feel free to borrow it from me.

6. I was addicted to this album my second summer at Jacob Lake.

8. This song was running through my head the whole time I was in the MTC.

9. wow wow wow this song always gets me

12. One of the last concerts I went to before my mission.

13. I had this album on repeat while I when I traveled through Nepal.

19. "Gonna rise up
       Burning back holes in dark memories
       Gonna rise up
       Turning mistakes into gold"

            This is the atonement

20. A favorite hymn to end.

A Poem for Thursday: "Vietnam" - Wislawa Szymborska

"Woman, what's your name?" "I don't know."
"How old are you? Where are you from?" "I don't know."
"Why did you dig that burrow?" "I don't know."
"How long have you been hiding?" "I don't know."
"Why did you bite my finger?" "I don't know."
"Don't you know that we won't hurt you?" "I don't know."
"Whose side are you on?" "I don't know."
"This is war, you've got to choose." "I don't know."
"Does your village still exist?" "I don't know."
"Are those your children?" "Yes."

Music for your Midweek: Old Crow Medicine Show

Apparently, this chorus of this song was written by Bob Dylan, and O.C.M.S. fleshed out the rest of it. I just love it to pieces.

They're coming to Salt Lake this summer at the Red Butte Outdoor Concert Series on July 5th. You can get your tickets on May 6th!

Alt-J Concert Recap: "C-O-double-M-O-N"

I really really like Alt-J.

I've been hyping myself up for their concert this past week by watching interviews, reviews, and take away shows. I was a little bummed they would be playing at the Complex. It's not my favorite venue. When I saw Jonsi there a couple years ago, it was decent, it's
Just.
So.
Big.
I Arrived in time to catch a bit of Wildcat! Wildcat! and their Tears for Fears cover before finding Julia. We got a good spot, though it was outside the on the outside edge of the speakers so the sound was a little muddy. BUT what we lacked in sound, we made up for in ambiance. Smelled so great where we were standing. FER REALS. Someone had to have been wearing this perfume that I used to wear while I was on my mission. And it mixed well with the other smells around us. A nice bouquet. haha.

ANYWAY, take a look at these guys:

They're so young. Babies really. Like college kids that got big seemingly out of nowhere. We could see it on keyboardist's face while while they were playing. Shock and awe at their own success. The music was fine; they were charmingly awkward. They essentially played their album along with Buffalo from the Silver Linings Playbook soundtrack and a mashup of Kylie Minogue and Dr Dre.

I've been feeling sort of old lately and being around all these hip whipper-snappers that looked like they came from an Urban Outfitters catalog made me feel even more so.
But then then Alt-J did an cover of Real Hero by College.
It was so tender. Melted my heart, and I felt a bit better.

No luck getting a set-list this time, but I got a piece of paper with their name on it in fancy font? It was great. Sure sure.

Scent-scapes

Look at what Olfactive Studio is doing:

They've created a series of scents based on photographs. The New York Times did a little piece on it. I'd love to try them out! Looks really interesting.

Also, all those Bond no. 9 scents I've tried are a little boring :/ The only one that really stuck with me was Chinatown, but I don't know if it fits me. Plus they're super expensive. Plus I hate the shape of the bottle (sorrynotsorry). I think I'm only going to try weird perfumes from now on. I stopped by Lush over the weekend and tried a couple scents

Vanillary on my left wrist, Breath of God on my right. I liked both of them, but I just think Breath was little too masculine.Need to buy Vanillary. I REALLY liked it. 

A Poem for Thursday: XLIV - Pablo Neruda

Sabras que no te amo y que te amo
puesto que de dos modos es la vida,
la palabra es un ala del silencio,
el fuego tiene una mitad de frio.

Yo te amo para comenzar a amarte,
para recomenzar el infinito
y para no dejar de amarte nunca:
por eso no te amo todavia.

Te amo y no te amo como si tuviera
en mis manos la laves de la dicha
y un incierto destino desdichado.

Mi amor tiene dos vidas para amarte.
Por eso te amo cuando no te amo
y por eso te amo cuando te amo.

Music for your Midweek: Fyfe

I don't expect to see this guy around Salt Lake anytime soon. So I've been listening to all of his 5 songs over and over and over on spotify.

Man.

I don't even know what to do. He's just so over my head:

Dreem Teem: R. Kelly and Pheonix

My brother posted this on Facebook recently. I don't know why he didn't post it on my wall. I guess he just doesn't know me at all.

First off, I hate Coachella because I just get a huge case of F.O.M.O. when I even think about it (also I hate that F.O.M.O. is a a thing we talk about). I will never be a music festival goer because:

A. I'm too cheap
B. There are huge crowds which I hate more than ANYTHING. Honestly I'm so spoiled. I even avoid the Twilight concert series (and it's only $5!) because of the crowds
C. I'm really judgmental and they seem like the kind of places that are filled with people I "hate"
D. There are all these articles online about how to "dress for the fest" and it makes me want to hyperventilate cause there is nothing worse than standing in 150 degree weather and the only water you can get is $10 a bottle AND you have to look hot?!?!?!? Are you kidding me?!? That is hell.

(Note: these are all the things I repeat to myself over and over cause I really do want to make it out to Bonnaroo sometime but I THINK I MIGHT BE TOO OLD NOW? This is awful)

ANYWAYZ. This is what I wanted to show you:

When you think about it, this sort of thing was inevitable. 

This is everything great and horrible in the universe all at once. It is the epitome of selling out and I love it in an Andy Warhol sort of way. Love it love it love it.

Mr. Robbins. You're killing me.

I just love everything Jerome Robbins does...

...or anything that has his style.

Oh gosh. Remember when they used this clip in that Gap commercial? I bought some of those black skinny pants from Gap for $4. I felt awkward wearing them cause they were just becoming a "thing". Well I bought those way back in 2006, and they just got a hole in them THIS year and it made me sooooooo sad. :(

Anyway. How about a ballet without music?

WOW WOW WOW

I anyway. I got back on this dancing kick cause I just watched a new music video from Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros last week:

I haven't given these guys a good listen since 2009 (I'm more a fan of the frontman's solo stuff). But this song is pretty darling.

the odds are NEVER in our favor

OK OK OK

can't

handle

this.

Find me somebody(book) to LOVE(read)

I've been really non-committal with the books I've been trying to read. Just can't get into them. I got to pick up this book I had on hold at the library, and I'm hoping it cures what's been ailing me:

The Beatles: The Biography by Bob Spitz

I sure hope so, cause I hate not having a good book to read.

books books books books you are better than anythingggggg!

Also guys. I'm seriously getting dumber now that I'm out of school. I was typing something up for work, and I spelled "discussion" D-I-S-C-U-T-I-O-N.

Like seriously. 

I did it again while I was typing this post. 

Where is my mind indeed.

Bassnectar *wompwompwomp*

So I need to read more books. It's crucial to my health.

A message from one of my homes

Really lovely. Here's a video of a woman who helped started a orphanage in Kathmandou. I still consider Nepal one of my homes:

I'm too far in.

A little something before the weekend:

A Poem for Thursday: Sonnet 116 - William Shakespeare

Let me not to the marriage of true minds

Admit impediments. Love is not love

Which alters when it alteration finds,

Or bends with the remover to remove:

Oh no, it is an ever fixed mark

That looks on tempests and is never shaken;

It is the star to every wandering bark,

Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.

Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks

Within his bending sickle's compass come;

Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,

But bears it out even to the edge of doom,

     If this be error and upon me proved,

     I never writ, nor no man ever loved.

Music for your Midweek: Gang of Four

I know it seems I always post covers. I almost posted one today, but I resisted. Instead, you get a sweet live recording of Gang of Four's Damaged Goods.

How would it have been to go to one of those shows? 

Mayhem. 

This music drives me crrrrrazy.

Here's another one of their songs in a video you can actually see. 

Check out the moves.
So funky.

Healthy Shmealthy

Every Sunday night I vow to be healthy. Every Monday afternoon, it all falls apart. Here's a video that Mark Bittman posted about sugar in "healthy" foods:

Crazy, am I right? 

I gotta get this under control. Mr. Bittman just released a new book that I want to check out, Eat Vegan Before 6:00. 

Something that would really help me make more healthy choices would be to cook more at home. I think the recipes would help. If any of you guys have this book, let me know what you think!

I don't know why you'd want this, but just in case you do...

The search is over...

I HAVE FOUND THE MALE COUNTERPOINT TO LANA DEL REY.

His name is Josef Salvat.

The similarities are uncanny.

Same tenor to the voice, silly lyrics, dark mood, "vintage" film...

it's all there. 

Here's his song:

Time to watch conference...again!

Conference technically ended a little over 16 hours ago, and we already have videos, transcripts, and podcasts we can share. It really is amazing. I'm especially excited to listen to priesthood session, and re-listen to talks that I wasn't the most...uh...attentive to. Jaja. I was going to share with you some of my favorites from this weekend, but it's not letting me embed like I want to. Below are some of the links:

Dieter F. Uchtdorf - I love the comparison of the gospel to light. Also, the importance of our choosing to be in the light.

L. Whitney Clayton - I loved his description of what marriage should look like. equal partners raising and caring for their children, having dinner as the highlight and center of the day, praying together. So needed.

Rosemary M. Wixom - Her example of a father who preferred to be on his phone instead of connecting with his child made me so sad. So many of us choose not to be present in the moment. I'm actually sort of glad that my computer broke and I don't have a smart phone. They can easily become too much of a distraction from real life.

Jeffrey R. Holland - Just beautiful.

What were some of your favorite messages from conference? It's been interesting to talk with my roommates and family members about the conference themes. We all hear the same talks, but take-away different lessons. I love it. 

A Pre-Conference Thought

A few months ago, my roommate lent me her favorite book to read, "The Blue Castle".

Don't let the cheesy cover dissuade, I like it! It's by the same author as the Anne of Green Gables books if you're into that sort of thing. There's a quote from the book I've been holding onto for the past few months that I wanted to share.

"Fear is the original sin. Almost all the evil in the world has it's origin in the fact that someone is afraid of something, It is a cold, slimy serpent coiling about you. It is horrible to live with fear; and it is of all things degrading."

At the risk of being too simplistic, I think this is mostly true. Fear can keep us from growing. That's where this scripture from the New Testament comes in.

1 John 4:15-18

15. Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. 

16. And we have known and believed that the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. 

17. Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgement: because as he is, so are we in this world. 

18. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear...

 I'm so excited about General Conference. These scriptures and quotes are kind of guiding what I hope to get out of it. I'm working to build my testimony in the love of Christ, and hope. 

A Poem for Thursday: "Try to Praise the Mutilated World" - Adam Zagajewski

Try to praise the mutilated world,
Remember June's long days,
and wild strawberries, drops of wine, the dew.
The nettles that methodically overgrow
the abandoned homesteads of exiles.
You must praise the mutilated world.
You watched the stylish yachts and ships;
One of them had a long trip ahead of it,
while salty oblivion awaited others.
You've seen the refugees heading nowhere,
you've heard the executioners sing joyfully.
You should praise the mutilated world.
Remember the moments where we were together
in a white room and the curtain fluttered.
Return in the though to the concert where music flared.
You gathered acorns in the park in autumn
and leaves eddied over the earths scars.
Praise the mutilated world
and the grey feather a thrush lost,
and the gentle light that strays and vanishes
and returns.

The best 5 years...

On this day, exactly 5 years, I entered the MTC to start my mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I had no idea the profound effects that the mission would have on my life, essentially changing it's whole trajectory. I had my highest highs and lowest lows at that time in my life. I wouldn't trade it for anything, and I think about it everyday. t's hard to believe that all this started 5 years ago. They say that the two years on your mission (or the year and half if your a sister) are the best two years of your life. Despite the challenges and changes that came after my mission, every year since that has been my "best".

My room in Ica

True sisters. I miss you all.

La Huacachina. 

Back in Bolivia to finish my mission.

My last day as a missionary. It still brings tears to my eyes.

Since my mission, I've tried to continue being a disciple of Christ. Some days I'm better at it than others. I remember one of my mission presidents telling me that the level of spirituality we have on our mission is as high as it can get. He was both right and wrong. As a missionary,my purpose was to focus and serve others, all day, every day. That's not what life is like now, and I miss it so much. But I do think I've spiritually progressed since then. I am more confident, more understanding, and more patient. And I know there is still more I can become.

Music for your Midweek: Chris Garneau, Seth Avett, and Elliott Smith

Here's that voice from my mix last week doing a cover of my first favorite Elliott Smith song:



and here's Seth Avett with "Angeles". Beautiful guitar:



ps. You should check out all the crackerfarm videos. They are so good.

and for today, a special bonus. I haven't watched the whole thing. It makes me too sad. But maybe you'll like it.

The Chickeneers

Happy April Fools! I laughed too hard at this:

Their clucking is just so sincere.