My 15 Minutes of Fame

Last year, I was a model for Alysse's Bridal which was a great experience and a totally different story for a different time :) But one night after one of our fashion shows, we got a call about a movie being filmed at Thanksgiving Point and they wanted us to be extras!  At the time, all we knew was that it was a prom scene and we were perfect because we were still all dressed for the fashion show for the formal dress line.  I begged my parents to let me do it and 20 minutes later me and my friend were stuffing our huge dresses into the car to go to the set.

After signing parental release forms, we were given our places and told what to do.  Count to ten then walk across the courtyard.  Don't look at the camera and don't make any noise.  Only pretend to talk to each other.  Be careful not to look directly at the actors.  And so on and so on.  We eventually learned that the movie was "You're So Cupid."  And the only actor I knew was Jeremy Sumpter, most famous for his part in "Peter Pan."  My friend was really excited and in between takes, she pulled out her camera and secretly filmed him and the set.  I'm pretty sure that was a no-no.  After a few takes, the set was changed slightly to prepare for the kissing scene.  I was placed in a group of other people directly behind the kissers.  Again, we were just supposed to pretend to talk.  The scene was filmed many times; more than I thought necessary.  A couple more shots were taken and then it was all over.  By this time it was around 2 am.  My poor family waited the whole time out in the parking lot.  Oh, and I forgot to mention that it was freezing that night!  But we were told to act not cold.  Anyways, the set photographer asked if we wanted to meet the actors and so we talked with Jeremy and the others and got our pictures taken with them.  And boy, Jeremy was a stuck up, jerk-face.  But it was a fun experience and was cool to see how movies were filmed.

Now fast forward 9 months and for Christmas I get the DVD.  I had almost forgotten all about it!  I was excited to watch it but there was no guarantee that I would be seen in it.  There are a couple of takes where, if you know where to look, you can see me.  And sure enough, I am right there in the background during the kissing scene.  But I didn't really like the movie... It's about these twin sisters, who are the school's matchmakers.  After a sequence of events, they find out that their dad is actually Cupid and they have the power to make people fall in love.  Both girls end up falling for the same guy and he falls in love with both (youtube the trailer).  Its a very, very cheesy chic flick.  But it was fun!  Which I guess is the important part :)

xoxo
sam

A Nation of Wimps

Parents are going to ridiculous lengths to make life's journey smooth and easy for their children.  This hyperconcern and micromanaging has devastating effects on kids by making them more fragile and can be the reason for more kids breaking down in record setting numbers.

Even play-time at the park is changing.  More and more, parents are on the all-rubber-cushioned playground right there with their kids.  Few are taking it easy on the benches, as parents used to, letting the kids figure things out for themselves.

Childhood has become overly sanitized, and abhors skinned knees and the occasional C in math class.  Making mistakes, even on the playground, is completely out of style.  Error and experimentation are foundation of success; however, parents are determined to remove failure of any kind from their child's life.  This tends to make them risk-averse and psychologically fragile.  Young kids with severe anxiety are becoming more and more prevalent in elementary schools.  We learn from all experiences, whether good or bad, and it is through failure that we learn to cope.  Children are even sheltered from death and are instead told that their favorite pet 'ran away'.  With few challenges of their own, children are robbed of meaning and a sense of accomplishment.  Whether we realize it or not, we are creating a nation of wimps.

Kids aren't getting the benefits out of childhood that they once did.  Coaches tell them what position to play and where to stand, parents tell them what to eat and wear, and referees tell them who won and what is fair.  Kids are missing out on learning important leadership and problem solving skills.  True play encourages decision making, memory and thinking and it creates an ideal environment for children to develop social skills. These are all being stripped out of a child's play time as parents strive to make sure their child is the best.

Parents are naturally concerned about their children having high self-esteem, and there is nothing wrong with that.  But when it comes to the point when parents are willing to cheat on their child’s behalf to get them ahead of their peers, they have gone too far.  By doing things to make your child 'better' than his friends, you have just told him that he couldn't have done it on his own and shattered any sense of self.  The child begins to believe that if they need to cut corners and take every advantage they can get, then maybe there is something wrong with them.

The fragility factor is easily seen on college campuses across the country.  Psychological distress is quickly increasing; appearing in the forms of anxiety and depression, for example.  Parents are forced to let go of the hand of their adult child when they move out and go to college, but that doesn't stop parents from holding on until the very last good-bye in the student’s new room.  Many parents even go as far as to submit applications for college and scholarships for their teenagers, believe that anything lower than a B is unacceptable (even though a C is average) and believe that any form of failure is a reflection of their parenting.  College students are suddenly thrown into complete independence and are forced to do things they are not prepared for.  I had a roommate who had never down laundry or cleaned a bathroom before because her mom always took care of that.  Even after their child has left the house, parents still look for ways to ease their child's life.  A college administrator told me once about parents who call to protest their student's C in science class because it will damage his shot at grad school.  Well guess what, it was the student's fault and he more than likely earned that grade.

This brings me to the alarming revolution of grade inflation.  The bar is being lowered in order to provide students with success.  In my high school, they no longer had a valedictorian at graduation because of the increasing number of students graduating with 4.0 GPAs.  Many of these students were the ones who took the 'easy A' classes and not the ones who enrolled in multiple AP classes, rarely missed a class, and completed all homework on time.  One of those students should receive the honor of being named valedictorian, but because society promotes equality, it would be ludicrous to give that honor to only one person which would suggest that person was 'better' than the rest of the class.

The sheltered life of home has no physical boundaries.  College students are constantly talking to parents through phone calls, texting and Facebook.  When a problem arises and the student needs to make a decision, they immediately consult mom and dad instead of figuring things out for themselves.  There is absolutely nothing wrong with phone calls to parents, in fact I actually encourage it, but when the sole purpose of the phone call is to ask whether going to the lake for the weekend would be a good idea or not, that seems a little excessive.  Perhaps calling afterwards to relate the events of the weekend would be more appropriate.  Students are now adults and making simple decisions are part of the adult life they agreed to when they moved out.

Parents need to realize that although they mean well, their actions can create devastating effects on their child. 

What do you think?  Is our nation raising wimpy children?

wednesday the fifteenth of june

I applied for a new job!  This one is at a bridal store and I think I would really enjoy working there.  I haven't heard anything yet, but hopefully I will! :)

So this past weekend, I went to visit my wonderful family in Layton.  On Saturday, we went to a family reunion in Newton; a teeny, tiny town  next to the Idaho border.  We were late getting there and when we walked in, a lady was talking about wanting to get a picture before everyone started leaving.  Leaving?? We had just got there!  So we tried to talk to people a bit, but it was relatives I didn't know.  Besides my family, I think I knew 3 or 4 other people.  Eventually, we left and made the hour and a half drive back home.  Later, we had a movie night and watched I Am Number Four and The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader.  The number four movie was really good!  Although I was a little annoyed when the it ended and left the story plot wide open.  I am guessing there will be a sequel in the future...?

I am finally starting to get to know some people who live in my building.  Last week we met the boys who live next door and the other night, I hung out with them and watched a movie and played outside and just talked :) We are slowly making new friends.

Okay. Time for a funny story.  I work with this really odd guy.  He just has the weirdest ideas.  He was telling me about this one government conspiracy.  So apparently, the government and Apple have joined forces and are aiming to take over the world.  They are designing the ipods so that as many people will buy them as possible.  And once enough people have bought them, the government will tell Apple to flip a switch or something that will send an electric current through the ipod and headphones into the users brain.  Then they will have control over the entire population.  I know, crazy, right?  And the funny thing is that he was dead serious.

Start Stumbling!

Ladies and gentlemen! Boys and girls of all ages!  I have recently discovered the incredible art of stumbling.  What's stumbling you ask?  Well, it is this wonderful site that you can discover too by clicking here.  Stumbling is a simple art that anyone can master.

First, you create your account.  Second, choose your interests.  It can be anything from crafts to sports.  Third, hit the stumble button and you are off to discover fantabulous new things!

StumbleUpon is designed to take you to websites that fit our individual interests.  Interested in photography, for example?  Then you will be taken to look at some stunning photos.

It is perfect for those times when you want to do nothing more than sit and waste away time.

***Warning: If you are a chronic procrastinator, use with caution.

Random Stuff I Don't Need But Kinda Want

The purpose of this blog is to showcase those random items that are cool but not necessarily needed.

I would love to have a hammock, and I'd even take a private island to go with it!

This bathtub has an Audrey Hepburn-esque to it.

Great idea! Make dishing out dinner a little easier!

 

This salt and pepper shaker gives you the best of both worlds.

Genius.

 

I would be found guilty of playing with my food if I had these...

Love it!

This idea is very original.  I can honestly say I have never seen anything quite like it.

This reminds me of New York City.  I absolutely love twinkling lights!

Kitchen space is very valuable, make use of those tight corners with a spacious drawer.

 

Okay, I might actually need this one.  Cutting my own guitar picks is difficult sometimes.