“I’m a dancer.” “Well today, in rehearsal…” “Sorry, I can’t, I have dance.”

In any short conversation with me, you’re bound to hear at least one of those phrases. I’ve been dancing since I was three years old, and I’m still pursuing the dream I had as a little girl to dance professionally. I’m a modern dancer, which is why I was excited to hear that on this season of MADE, MTV will be making Laura Crow into a modern dancer! This is how MTV describes the episode:

Laura Crow is a hardworking perfectionist struggling with body issues as well as her relationship with her father. Now she’s ready to move past her problems and express how she really feels by being MADE into a Modern Dancer.

Uh oh. There we go: body issues. Eating disorders seem to have become an integral part of our culture’s idea of what it means to be a dancer. In just about every Hollywood movie about dancers, at least one of them has an eating disorder. The most recent example of this is Black Swan, in which Natalie Portman’s character is bulimic. Not to mention the fact that both Portman and Mila Kunis ran around for months talking about how skinny they got for their roles. Read More »

Did you know that August was originally named Sextilis? In ancient times there seemed to be pretty high expectations for this month. But throughout history August has gained a bad reputation for being the most unfortunate month of the year. It’s the only month without a major national holiday, the month when WWI started, the month when atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and the month when Elvis Presley and Marilyn Monroe died.

At least Scotland has the Edinburgh Festival; here in the States, August is the month where summer days go to die, and when poor little children have to put down their toys and go back to school.

BUT, I’m here to tell you it doesn’t have to be all bad; we’re just going to make the best of it. And it’s really not hard. There’s lots goin’ on in August.  Like cheese? It’s National Goat Cheese Month. Wanna be like Tiger Woods? National Golf Month. Starting your own business? Home Business Month and National Inventors Month. August doesn’t have to be all bad.

Aug 1- MTV Debuted
On this day in 1981, music videos found their home on the instantly-popular, new music channel: MTV. As you know, they’ve expanded now to not only include music (or, should I say, not include music at all), but reality shows as well. Get your 15 seconds (or an entire season) of fame by being on the Real World, which is casting right now! Or if the 24/7 camera-in-the-face non-stop-drama lifestyle doesn’t appeal to you, then apply for Made or True Life, both of which have considerably less screaming and flashing.

Aug 2 – National Ice Cream Sandwich Day
Ok, these may not be in sandwich form, but custom-made, mix-your-own ice cream?! I SCREAM FOR ICE CREAM.

Aug 12- Middle Children’s Day (who knew it existed? And does this mean us middle kids can finally get the love and attention we deserve?!) Read More »

After last week’s two-hour premiere, I didn’t think I’d be able to stomach another double-helping of The Bachelorette. But it’s amazing what one can accomplish when fueled by BBQ’d foods and beer.

Here’s the gist:

The winners of last week’s first impression roses, Jeremy, Jesse and Richard, got to reside in DeAnna’s mansion while the rest of the gang took the “walk of shame” down to the men’s barracks. Their digs are complete with rickety bunk beds and an outdoor shower without a door or curtain.

One half of the guys took DeAnna on a group date to a private magic club. It was exactly as nerdy as it sounds. They did card tricks, held doves and Jason got some alone time with DeAnna after they disappeared into a box. The other half of the group went on a group date to Dodger Stadium where they serenaded DeAnna with the National Anthem, participated in a home-run derby and fraternized with legendary manager Tommy Lasorda.

Graham was the lucky winner of a non-group date with DeAnna. They flew kites, strolled on the beach and roasted marshmallows. DeAnna was put off by Graham’s lack of relationship experience but he re-gained her trust and nabbed a rose with a few suave words and an invitation to snuggle. Read More »

Who doesn’t enjoy rerun episodes of MADE on MTV? Sure, the show got annoyingly repetitive and started selling out near the end of the series, (what MTV shows don’t? Believe it or not the Real World used to have something to do with its title. And MTV stands for music television…ironic I know.) but overall it was highly enjoyable to watch an angry gothic chick try and make the cheerleading squad or a socially awkward Bible-thumper audition for the step team.

Anyone who ever watched the show undoubtedly considered, if ever given the opportunity, what they themselves would ask to be made into. My sister, (a highly uncoordinated 24-year old with no athletic experience) claims she would want to be made into a dancer. I’m not sure what I’d request. Maybe to learn how to surf. (In accordance to my unconstrained high-pitched glee, the roommates thought I’d either won the lottery or spotted one enormous cockroach. In fact, I’d just seen that Blue Crush was airing on HBO.) Plus, I’d probably get a free trip to California or somewhere nice out of it. Read More »