Friday Favorites - World Cup 2014 Addition

Happy, Happy Friday :)

This girl has big, big plans this weekend. They include being outside in the sun, going to Portland's Saturday Market...maybe laying by my grandma's pool. Going on a hike since there is no rain in the forecast for the next 10 days. Potentially watching The Fault In Our Stars, although, honestly, I am afraid I will cry like a little baby in public and I am not sure anyone needs to see that. 

You know, really important weekend things. Basically what I am saying is I need to day to fly by so this fabulous weekend full of plans and no plans can start. Before the weekend starts though, let's link up with Amanda for Friday Favorites and talk about some of my favorite things that happened this week.

My favorite moment this week - besides my sister graduating - had to be falling asleep while reading outside yesterday afternoon. Gosh I love a good unexpected nap, especially when it is outside in the funshine. 

For my favorite links of the week I want to also team up with Sarah and Fan out for Fan Friday on one topic. Let's focus on - World Cup 2014 

Now, I know not everyone is obsessed with soccer like Bradley is - because let's be honest. Bradley is a little crazy and a little out of his mind with his love for the US Men's National team and soccer in general.

But here are a few reasons why you should take some time out of your schedule over the next few weeks and watch some of the World Cup games - especially the United States Men's National Team (you can cheer for us, Melissa even though you're Canadian).  The World Cup is being held in Brazil this year, so there will be many, many good looking fans that will be showed on TV. The Stadiums are ridiculous (if they get them finished in time - a lot of them are still not finished yet and the first game is in less than a week), and the hair styles by soccer players are always comical. 

::First let the cast of Bend It Like Beckham explain the World Cup for you. Then....

::Get to know the US Men's Team a little bit better and read this. 

::Next, you should watch because there are at least 180 hot men that play soccer. 

::Watch because our most important player is good with kids. 

::Watch for this beautiful Argentinian. 

::Watch for this beautiful American. Oh Geoff, you have won me over with your facial hair and hipster haircut. 

::Watch for Tim Howard's sexy tattoos. 

::Do it for Shakira and her soccer playing, baby daddy and all the other WAGS. 

::Watch for these players and then check out their instagram accounts. 

BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY WATCH BECAUSE IT IS THE MOST AMERICAN THING YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR COUNTRY FOR THE NEXT MONTH.  One Team. One Dream.

Oh, and watch for this Derp Face by Clint Dempsey (he is American). 



Lastly, my #backthatazzup song of the week is even World Cup Theme. Check out this awesome music video / ad for the World Cup by Beats By Dre. It's sick.


Cheers to America!

<3 BB

ps. sorry for the link overload. I think I blacked out after looking at so many pretty soccer players.

track is back

Guys,

Getting all Fan Girl on you with Miss Sarah, because Willamette University's Track season is in full swing. Our first meet is this weekend! Holy Moly, that pretty much means all my Saturdays until the end of May will be spent at the track. It also means I will be in full nostalgia mode for a while. True story, I miss competing. Last night I even brought my Javelin boots out to the track so I could throw around with the girls. In case you're wondering, I've still kind of got it. The little freshman gal I coach was impressed. Don't worry though, my old coach also saw me throwing and brought me back down to reality when he pointed out my form was garbage. This ego is still in check.

//Anyway, enough about my love of track and field. Let's get to some entertaining links. 

//Not really eating much dairy these days, but how good do these new flavors look?! HAZED AND CONFUSED GET IN MY MOUTH! 

//My love for Paul Rudd runs deep. 

//This was kind of a given, but Juan Pablo is the worst. 

//This instagram feed. Cuteness overload. 

//JLaw and the history of cool girls. 

//Holy crap:  the average American consumes 16 percent of his or her daily calories from sugars added during food production

//Lastly, for #backthatazzup Friday, I have this Jam I heard yesterday on the way to practice. It reminds me of summer. It features the lead singer of Sublime. It also makes me miss the original lead singer of Sublime. I mean Rome,  you're cool and all, but I miss Bradley Nowell. Why do all the talented ones OD from heroine?! Anyway...... It's sunnyish in Portland today, so I am going to pretend it is summer. 

Cheers!  <3 BB

treat yo'self friday

In honor of Sarah's Fan Friday figured I would share last night's photos with you. Brad and I went to the Timbers' playoff game last night. They won. Get excited. Get really, double, extra excited because they knocked Seattle out of the playoffs and are into the next round. SEE YA NEVER, SOUNDERS! Sorry, not sorry, Sara (different blogger, same name, confusing, I know). Also, check out these photos from last night. They are pretty legit. Fun fact, their head coach is sexy. 

Timbers had just scored when I took this picture. It was also very cold and windy last night in case you were curious.

Also, this sign made my night. Maybe even my week. I mean... does a play on words get any better than that?! Plus it featured the Dempsey Derp face, you know the one. 

Gawd, I laugh just thinking about it. Classic. 

Lastly, in honor of it being Friday and my little Sister's birthday. I treated myself to a pumkpin-y treat. That's how other people's birthdays work right? You get gifts for yo'self, not for them? Nailed it!

And now.... listen to this cover of The Knife's Heartbeats by Ellie Goulding for #backthatazzup Friday with Whitney. It will make your heart happy. 

Cheers to Friday! 

<3 BB 

excuses

Not sure if many of you have seen this photo floating around the internet or not.

But it has been getting quite a bit of backlash and attention.  Maria Kang considers herself a mother, a business owner, a creator of the nonprofit, Fitness Without Borders, and a fitness blogger. 

After posting this photo, she has been accused of 'fit-shaming' and 'fat-shaming' others. People are even calling her a bully and accusing her of being a bad mom. Really, people, really?!!?!?! 

Why the negativity? Why are we getting angry at a woman who has taken the time to make her health a priority so she can be a healthy, active role model for her sons. Not to mention, she wants to live long enough to raise her sons and you need to be healthy to do that. Her point here is not to attack others or judge others' lifestyles. Her point was DON'T MAKE EXCUSES to be healthy. She is also not saying you have to have her body type or her abs eight months after giving birth, she is just saying don't let excuses stop you from living a healthy life. 

Let's be honest we all make excuses. We're too busy, too stressed, too tired, too sick...whatever you tell yourself to get out of being healthy is not Maria's fault or problem, so stop projecting. 

Hate to break it to you, but our country is overweight. Our country is lazy. Our country has many, many health problems that could be alleviated with fitness and healthy eating.  You don't have to like Maria or even like how she went about making her point, but the fact is, she does have a point.  And if you're angry with her, it might be because you realized you are making excuses and she is calling you out a little bit. 

So, let's stop with the hate and judgment of others and instead look inside ourselves to see what is causing the negativity and excuses and figure out how we can make positive changes. At the end of the day it comes down to not comparing yourself with others and being happy and healthy in your own body. 

Janelle from Renegade Mothering does a much better job getting her point across about this same topic in this post, so you should totally go read it now. 

Anyway, I linked up with Sarah and Fan Friday for this post, because in case you haven't picked up on it yet, I am a fan of fitness and a fan of health. 

Also, go listen to this song when you #backthatazzup with Whitney to go get your workout on. 

End Rant.  <3 BB 

fan friday :: mariano

So this happened last night.

I would be lying if I said I didn't get a little teary eyed when I watched it. If you didn't catch Mariano Rivera's final send off at Yankee Stadium, you can check it out here. Editor's note: If you have a heart or ever played sports, this will make you cry.

I don't particularly like the Yankees (don't tell my Grandpa that), but this man is a class act and this moment is a special moment. Not just in baseball, but athletics in general. It made me happy and made me re-appreciate my love for sports. So thanks for that, Rivera. 

Linking up with Sarah for Fan Friday.

Also, linking up with Whitney for #backthatazzup Friday! Went with a little Macklemore and Ryan Lewis and their tribute to baseball (mainly the Mariners). Now, it's not a tribute to Rivera, but still, it just works, I think. 

Cheers!  <3 BB  Image found here. 

branded :: women in sports

So the other night I watched this powerful documentary done by ESPNW. It's part of a series called Nine For IX  - which is inspired by the 40th anniversary of Title IX and is: About women. Made by women. For us all. 

The episode I watched was called Branded and it focused on how women in sports have to market themselves and sell themselves differently than men do. 

The feminist in me was appalled - but let's be honest, you shouldn't have to be a 'feminist' to be upset by this. Anyone that supports equality in general should be upset by this, feminist, female, or not. 

Basically what it comes down to is, men in athletics can make money and support themselves on their athletic abilities and talents alone...whereas women in sports, even the top professional female athletes, have a much harder time making a living off their sport and talents and instead are forced to basically sell themselves off of sponsorships.  Successfully branded women in athletics fall into two categories: girl next door or sexy vixen - and both of those categories expect you to be attractive. Even more so, most female athletes make top dollar when using the 'sex sells' approach - think Danica Patrick in Go Daddy ads, Gabrielle Reece posing for Playboy, etc. As Gabrielle Reece (who posed for playboy and made a lot of money doing it) mentioned in the documentary, 'boobs will never go out of style'.

The thing is, I don't blame these women for doing what they have to do in order to be successful in a male dominated sports society and culture....what kills me is the fact that the majority of their profit and success doesn't even get to come from their athletic abilities and talents like it does for men.  There are A LOT of ugly men out there, that get paid A LOT of money to just play sports and you just don't find that in women's sports. Instead, when you hear talk about women athletes it is always focused on their looks and their bodies. There are countdowns of the sexiest female athletes, etc. Here's the deal - these women are fit, and strong, and sexy, and they work hard for their bodies... but they don't do it for the sex appeal, they do it to excel at their sport - so why can't they get more credit for their accomplishments in sports alone? Why was Lolo Jones criticized and told she should give her sponsorship money back, because she didn't medal at the Olympics? Evidently, 4th in the world is not good enough .... But Mark Sanchez can get paid ridiculous amounts to butt fumble. That's not equality and we have a long way until we are there. I just don't understand why females can't just get credit for being good at their sport? Is that too much to ask? 

The questions I had after watching the shows were:

::Why do we have to distinguish between male and female athletes? Why are women only ever considered one of the top female athletes in the world?! Why are they never seen as one of the top athletes in the world?

::How is that out of the top 50 highest paid athletes in world, not one of them is a female? 

::Why, as a culture, do we focus on sex so much? (Miley, athletes, celebrities, you name it)?

::What kind of example are we setting for the young female athlete - you have to be attractive and sexy if you want to succeed and be a professional athlete and your skill level comes second? Not cool, people, not cool.

Anyways, the documentary was really eye opening. Yes, we have come so far when it comes to women in sports, but clearly we have a long way to go, people.

Linked up with Sarah for Fan Friday on this one.

Also linking up with Whitney for #backthatazzup Friday.  This Say Anything song just seemed fitting.




End rant.

<3 BB

Image found here. 

reasons to watch futbol

Hellllllllllo Sports Fans,

In honor of Fan Friday, I wanted to share with you a sport I have started watching more regularly within the past 2 years. As you may have caught on, Brad has made me become a futbol fan....and no it's not the American kind. It's the kind that everyone, but the US, loves....SOCCER. Actually that's not true. Come to Portland and you'll see it's really popular here too. Brad and I even have season tickets to the Portland Timbers games. Anyway, after being immersed in the beautiful game (that's what they call it) for a little while now, I thought I would tell you all the reasons why you should give soccer a chance.

Δ The players are hot.

Δ The goals are impressive.

Δ The fans are crazy.

Δ The goal celebrations are LEGIT.

Δ The Wives and Girlfriends of the players are sexy. Hello WAGS. Yes, Shakira is a WAG.

Δ The commentators rival golf commentary and if you watch golf, you know that commentary is gold.

Basically, what I am saying is give soccer a chance, like this American football coach is.


*Editor's note: It's true about the 3/4 capris. Brad is obsessed with them and he didn't even buy them in the women's section. 


So appreciate soccer... or at least appreciate this.

And last, but not least...I will leave you with a song off of FIFA 2013 (that's the soccer video game in case you didn't know) for #backthatazzup Friday!!!!! 

Cheers!

<3 BB