Erin Brockovich (2000) (**Spoiler free**)

 

Directed by: Steven Soderberg

Starring: Julia Roberts, Aaron Eckhart, Albert Finney

IMBD synopsis: ''Erin Brockovich is an unemployed single mother, desperate to find a job, but is having no luck. This losing streak even extends to a failed lawsuit against a doctor in a car accident she was in. With no alternative, she successfully browbeats her lawyer to give her a job in compensation for the loss. While no one takes her seriously, with her trashy clothes and earthy manners, that soon changes when she begins to investigate a suspicious real estate case involving the Pacific Gas & Electric Company. What she discovers is that the company is trying quietly to buy land that was contaminated by hexavalent chromium, a deadly toxic waste that the company is improperly and illegally dumping and, in turn, poisoning the residents in the area. As she digs deeper, Erin finds herself leading point in a series of events that would involve her law firm in one of the biggest class action lawsuits in American history against a multi-billion dollar corporation.''

My rating: 9/10

My comment: When I think about which actress I admire the most, Julia Roberts always comes to mind. She always plays powerful women in her roles. In this role she plays a smart woman with three kids and little money to raise them. This movie is based on a true story, and even though I don't know much about the real Erin Brockovich, I think that Julia Roberts was a great casting choice.

Different Types of Yoga

Yoga is so good for every body. No matter how flexible you are or how old you are, it is a workout that will stretch and tone your muscles. I do it at least 4 times a week to relax, as I am a naturally stressed out person. Here is a list of the different types of yoga that I've gathered. If you would like mor information, click here.

1. Ananda Yoga
2. Anusara Yoga
3. Ashtanga Yoga / Power Yoga
4. Bikram Yoga
5. Hatha Yoga
6. Integral Yoga
7. ISHTA Yoga
8. Iyengar Yoga
9. Jivamukti Yoga
10. Kali Ray TriYoga
11. Kripalu Yoga
12. Kundalini Yoga
13. Restorative Yoga
14. Sivananda Yoga
15. Savroopa Yoga
16. Viniyoga
17. Vinyasa
18. White lotus yoga

I usually alternate my yoga days with Power Yoga, Hatha, Kundalini and Vinyasa.

At First Sight by Nicholas Sparks (***Spoiler Free***)

"Jeremy Marsh had always vowed he'd never do certain things: leave New York City, give his heart away agaain after barely surviving one failed marriage and, most of all, become a parent."

"Now, Jeremy is living in the tiny town of Boone Creek, North Carolina, married to Lexie Darnell, the love of his life, and anticipating the birth of their daughter. But just as his life seems to be settling into a blissful pattern, an unsettling and mysterious messages reopens old wounds and sets off a chain of events that will for ever change the course of this young couple's marriage."

My rating: 9/10
My comment: This book was everything that a chick-lit should be. There was dose of comedy, a pinch of romance and a dash of drama. The perfect cocktail for every single girl. Although it was a little bit different from the first novel in the duo (True Believer). I finished True Believer in one day and loved every sentence of it. If the day is dreary and cold, pull out this book and you feel warm and cozy in no time. :)

- Heather McIntosh

Invisible

So you are at a party which is unusual for an introverted socially awkward person like you. It’s not that you don’t like people, it’s just a night-in cuddled up in front of your laptop watching Pretty Little Liars sounds appealing too!

 So even though you are no longer that socially awkward little kid who would hide behind a thick 400-page novel in order to avoid sounding like an idiot because even saying “hi” made you wish you had a paper bag over your head.

The paper bag would be a better option in order to be invisible, but the book is good enough. Even though now you hide behind your Blackberry.

So you are standing next to your gorgeous friend, who is not as socially awkward as you are. In fact she is the complete opposite! As they say, opposites do attract.

She’s beautiful.

Out-going...

Smart.

You are all of those things, except the whole world knows who she is.

And funny: a stark contrast to you.

It is not that you are ugly. But if you were to compare you and her, she would be your brand new Blackberry phone

And you would be, well, the spare brick phone that you use when the other one is broken. It is good enough when the other one is broken.

Back to the party: a group of friends walk past, while you’re stuffing your face with potato chips. They approach you and your friend, and you smile in your attempt to being friendly.

“ Hey there!” they say, and come near to you and greet your friend and you stand there looking awkward. And they ignore.

Its like : hello??? You were clearly standing there trying to look approachable. Did they not see you there? You were standing right there!

 Or maybe you are wearing a sign that says: Don’t talk to me. So you return to stuffing your face with the potato chips.

Maybe after putting on a few kilograms, then they will notice you and you will be hard to miss.

Dial "M" for murder (1954) (**Spoiler Free**)

Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock

Starring: Ray Milland, Grace Kelly and Robert Cummings

Genre: Crime, Mystery, Thriller

IMBD Synopsis: An ex-tennis pro carries out a plot to murder his wife. When things go wrong, he improvises a brilliant plan B.

My rating: 8.5/10

My Comment: Alfred Hitchcock is one of my favourite directors of all time and this film reminded me why. Grace Kelly is a beautiful actress and she played this role so gracefully, even though she was the victim. brilliantly casted and filmed. Not for people that don't enjoy classic thrillers.

Across the universe by Beth Revis

"Amy has left the life she loves for a world 300 years away. Trapped in space and frozen in time, Amy is bound for a new planet. But fifty years before she is due to arrive, she is violently woke, the victim of an attempted murder. Now Amy's lost on board and nothing makes sense-she's never felt so alone. Yet someone is waiting for her. He wants to protect her; and more if she will let him. But who can she trust amidst the secrets and lies? A killer is out there- and Amy has nowhere to hide..."

My Rating: 6/10

My Comment: After watching many reviews of this book on YouTube. I finally hopped on the bandwagon, which now I'm really regretting. Maybe it's just the fact that I'm not a sci-fi fan but I really didn't enjoy this book. It started off great but somewhere in the middle I got lost and somehow the story didn't make any sense. One thing that I did enjoy about it was how Beth Revis added so much emotion in the beginning. Maybe I just wasn't really in the mood to read a book like this, but i do know that a lot of other people will enjoy it.

We put the “Pro” in Procrastination

"Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today" [Lord Chesterfield letter to his son].

It’s Tuesday evening and you’ve got mountains of studying to get through for tomorrow’s cycle test. But that is manageable right?

It’s not so bad you reassuringly say to yourself as you arrange your books. It’s only a few chapters...Until at 10pm it suddenly hits you that you’ve got an assignment due tomorrow too!

How on earth did this happen? You check your homework diary to see if you are not just imagining things. Yep, it’s true. Where did the time go? Time just seemed to slip away...

It all happens to the best of us. No matter how organised we are (or try to be), no student can resist committing this crime. Even though it can be

The Oxford Dictionary defines procrastination as “to put off doing something”.

Whatever that something is, you might be under the illusion that you have got an abundance of time.  You continually tell yourself that you do it tomorrow. Well of course you can do it tomorrow... just with a whole amount of pressure added to it and countless cups of coffee.

Seth Baker from Pick The Brain says: Procrastination is usually a symptom of some other problem: poor preparation, perfectionism, a fear of failure or rejection, or just a simple lack of motivation and interest.

And you think back to all the times you could have done your said-assignment... in between constantly updating your tweet, and catching up your missed series( because those things are things that you never seem to procrastinate or hesitate doing).

So how can you fix this problem?

·         Eliminate as many distractions as possible (this means turning off the BBM, closing yourself in a room for a couple hours etc) As Seth Baker states: Each distraction  pulls your focus away from the task at hand

·         Force yourself to do it. Start telling yourself that if you don’t get it done, you will get nowhere. Seth Baker states: The perfect time is now. Not tomorrow, not next week. Today.

·         You don’t have to be perfect.

·         Set your own deadlines.

·         Stay organised

 

 

As Seth Baker states: Procrastination is like leaving the headlights on in a parked car: it’s a slow drain on your mental battery. The longer the lights are on, the harder it is to get the engine started. By continually avoiding to do something you know you need to do, procrastination sucks the energy out of you.

 

The perfect time is now. Not tomorrow, not next week. Today

 

A true procrastinator doesn’t shovel the snow; a true procrastinator knows that the snow will melt...eventually!

Imani Dlamini

City Lights (1931) (Spoiler Free)

Directed by: Charles Chaplin

Starring: Charles Chaplin, Virginia Cherrill and Florence Lee

IMBD Synopsis:The Tramp struggles to help a blind flower girl he has fallen in love with.

Genre: Comedy, Romance, Drama

My rating: 9/10

My Comment: It's nice watching a true comedy for a change. Our soceity, these days, finds humour in dirty language. And although I did enjoy American Reunion last week, I much prefer physical humour as seen in "City Lights". I am a little embarrassed to say that this is my very first Charles Chaplin movie. I really enjoyed this one!

20 Minute cardio workout (old school)

Hate doing outdoor exercises? Hate having to drive to the gym? Want a sort but decent indoor cardio workout?

Do 4 sets. 1 Minute intervals for each exercise

1. March in place. Keep your legs wide apart and lift your knees up high when marching.
2. Butt kicks. Start with your legs straight and close together, try to kick your butt with your heel
3. Jumping jacks. Start with your legs together. When you jump them out, try to clap your hands
4. High Knees. Like jogging, but you are lifting your (bent) knee high up. Remember to tilt your pelvis so that you don't hurt your lower back.
5. Jogging in place. Remember to keep your hands low when doing this.

I am not a personal trainer, nor am I a nutritionist. It is just my own experiences.

- Heather McIntosh

My top ten songs at the moment

1. You'll be in my heart- Phil Collins
2. I won't give up- Jason Mraz
3. Be Honest- Jason Mraz and Inara George
4. We are never ever getting back together- Taylor Swift
5. All the pretty lights- Andrew Belle
6. Thunderstruck- AC/DC
7. It's only life- Kate Voegele
8. 50 ways to say goodbye- Train
9. Nothing's gonna stop us- Starship
10. Angel- Kate Voegele

Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens (spoiler free)

"'Please, sir', replied Oliver, 'I want some more.' The master aimed a blow at Oliver's head with the ladle, pinioned him in his arms, and shrieked aloud for the beadle"

"Oliver Twist is born in the harsh confines of a workhouse, his mother expiring in childbirth, his father unknown. After enduring years of brutal treatment, Oliver runs away to London, where he falls in with a band of child pickpockets led by the villainous Fagin. His foray into a life of crime soon lands him into the arms of the law, when Oliver's fortunes finally appear to turn as the robbery victim becomes his benefactor. But Fagin isn't about to let his young recruit go so easily, and with the vicious thug Bill Sikes among his henchmen , Oliver soon finds himself back in the criminal's lair, with many more travails to face on the tortuous and torturous road to discovering the truth about his past. In Oliver Twist Dickens exposes the sordid underbelly of Victorian England, where rootless young innocents are at the mercy both of brutal institutions and the corrupting forces that lurk on the streets."

My Rating: 7/10

My Comment: I have tried so hard to look for a great Charles Dickens novel. One that is similar to "A Christmas Carol", which is a book that i thoroughly enjoyed. And with ''Oliver Twist'', I finally found what I've been looking for. Although I found the novel a bit different from the movie, I still enjoyed the emotions of the characters and by reading a book based in the industrial revolution, everything in that era was brought back to life.

How to handle time management in high school

Have to ever woken up and said to yourself: "today I'm going to study so hard". You have your breakfast, but by 9 am you see your favourite show is on TV. when that show is finished, they are  showing another show that you've always wanted to try out and end up watching that one. by the time they are finished, its already 11. You then say ok, I'll start at 12 and end up channel surfing for another 2 hours, and you don't even realise it until your mom calls you for lunch. You make yourself another promise and say " maybe after lunch I'll study". once lunch is done you go up to your room, and you start noticing your eyelids getting heavy from all the ''procrastination food'' you gorged down at lunch time. When you wake up, it's late afternoon and you get a text from your best friend and end up talking to her for a good few more hours. by evening time you vow to stay up late and get that studying done. You do find yourself staying up late, but it's not because you're studying. Instead, you're watching YouTube videos and surfing the net.

 This is a huge problem among many of us teens, and in this blog post I will give you some of my tips and tricks as to how I balance my studies and recreation.

 

1.    Write out a study time table. Draw up a table and write in what SUBJECTS you are going to be doing on what DAYS and what time, and DURATION of the study.

For example:

Monday: 10-11 Maths

2.    Prepare ahead. Make buy any type of file or holder to organise your study notes. Make sure that you make your study ahead of time and not just the day before the exam. My sister makes this common mistake, it will just be a waste. Your brain needs time to summarise your notes, otherwise you will just blank out completely during your test.

3.    Don't overdo it. It won't help if you study for 10 hours a day. depending on what test is coming up and how much you struggle with it. I would say that 4-5 hours a day is a good average time to study in one day.

4.    Turn off all distractions. How annoying is it when your mother calls you every so often while you are trying to study? Let your household know how important this means to you. If you have any electronic devices near you (and yes, that includes your cellphone), TURN THEM OFF! If you can study to music, you may leave your iPod on, but don't turn up the volume too high either. Keep it at 40-50%

5.    Reward yourself. After every hour of studying I like to reward myself with a chapter in a book. And once I'm done with my studies for the day, I reward myself with a TV show or movie. Be creative. your reward system can be anything. It will help keep you motivated to finish

American Reunion (2012)

Directed by: Jon Hurwitz, Hayden Schlossberg

 

Starring: Jason Biggs, Alyson Hannigan, Seann William Scott

 

IMBD Synopsis: Jim, Michelle, Stifler, and their friends reunite in East Great Falls, Michigan for their high school reunion.

 

Genre: Comedy

 

My Rating: 7/10

 

My Comment: I have only ever seen the first American Pie movie, but I have to say that this one was hilarious. It had the same amount of awkwardness as the first one did. I love that they used most of the first movie's characters. One last thing that i have to say about this movie: do not watch with your parents. ;)

Snacking on Peanut Butter

Not only is Peanut Butter a great source of Vitamin E, minerals and protein... It is also a comfort food for many. And it goes with everything( ok, maybe not everything but I have been known to add a little bit of peanut butter to my dishes)! But just remember, peanut butter is also high in fat so be sure to enjoy this treat in moderation. And try buying organic peanut butter instead.

Here are a list of yummy healthy snacks or meals you can enjoy with some peanut butter( I have tried them all):

• Apples and Peanut Butter

• Oatmeal and Peanut Butter

• Toast and Peanut Butter

• Provitas and Peanut Butter

• Crackers and Peanut butter

I am sure there are plenty more combinations you can come up with!

Fit Thursday- Warm Up

One majorly important thing that you have to do before strength training is to warm up. Without warming up your muscles, you could snap and pull them. Cardio with dynamic stretching is a great way to warm up and burn extra calories.

 

Here is a quickie warm up that you can do at home or at the gym, do three sets.

 

1. Jog in place for 60 seconds

2. Arm swings. stand with your feet hip width apart and swing your arms across your chest, as if you are giving yourself a big hug. do this for 30 seconds.

3. Hip circles. Stand with legs hip width apart. Put your hands on your hips and circle them, with a slow and controlled movement.

 

I'm not a fitness trainer. nor am I a nutrionist. So every workout or fitness tips are purely from my own experience.

- Heather McIntosh

Random Musings

Walking Away

I've tried to be

The best I can

For you

But it seems to me

I do more harm

Than good

So I am walking away

You know where to find me 

Keeping Faith by Jodi Picoult

"One of America's most powerful and thought-provoking novelists, New York Times bestselling author Jodi Picoult brilliantly examines belief, miracles, and the complex core of family."

"When the marriage of Mariah White and her cheating husband, Colin, turns ugly and disintegrates, their seven year old daughter, Faith, is there to witness it all. In the aftermath of a rapid divorce, Mariah falls into a deep depression-- and suddenly Faith, a child with no religious background whatsoever, hears divine voices, starts reciting biblical passages and develops stigmata. And when the miraculous healing begin, mother and daughter are thrust into the volatile centre of controversy and into the heat of a custody battle-- trapped in a mad media circus that threatens what little stability the family has left"

 

My Rating: 8/10

My comment: Wow! Let's just say that Jodi Picoult is one of my favourite authors. I have read most of her books and not one of them has ever let me down. All of her books can be about a debatable topic and Keeping Faith is no different. I am not a true religious person but that didn't stop me from reading this book. In this novel there are a lot of controversial issues and even if you not a religious person, this book can still be enjoyed by anybody.

 

-Heather McIntosh

Popcorn Bites: The Hunger Games (2012)

Directed by: Gary Ross

Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Liam Hemsworth, Josh Hutcherson

IMBD Synopsis: "Set in a future where the Capitol selects a boy and girl from the twelve districts to fight to the death on live television, Katniss Everdeen volunteers to take her younger sister's place for the latest match."

Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi

My Rating: 7/10

My Comment: This movie was fifty-fifty for me.

Things I loved about it:

·         The soundtrack. I love the subtleness of the music. my favourite song from the whole soundtrack was "Run Daddy Run by Miranda Lambert".

·         I loved the casting. Unlike Twilight, the Hunger Games made note of the characters personalities and features, and brought them to life through amazing actors.

Things I didn't love about it:

·         The pacing was too slow. When I watched it with my friend we had to keep on pausing it.

·         The relationship between Rue and Katniss was too sudden. and they could've focused a lot more on that.

You can't exercise out a bad diet

You can't exercise your way out of a bad diet

Mark Hyman

How many of you have spent hours and hours on that treadmill breaking a sweat only to later treat yourself to a fresh do-nut soon after?

 I know I have. There is just something about working out that just makes me feel like I deserve a treat. I just burnt a ton of calories, so a little sweet treat won't hurt, right?

That was my thinking too! We all want to lose a little extra weight. I know I do! And the thought of cutting down certain foods out of my diet just sends shivers down my spine. Chocolate cake? Mcdonalds Fries? And the chocolate-binge sessions? Who wants to skip out on that.

So I thought in order to lose weight and still enjoy my guilty pleasures, I would put in more hours working out. Well, that was my thinking back then.

But unfortunately that is not the case.

It baffles me how some people try to lose weight by eating less... way less! And yet they still don't lose weight. They think just by cutting down on food, the weight will magically disappear.

But just in the same way that you need to watch what you eat in order to maintain a healthy weight, you also need to exercise. But there is no need for me to tell you why.

So before you finish that bag of potato chips alone, just remember:

You can't exercise your way out of a bad diet

Mark Hyman