Emily Krajci: Fond memories of fun Santa traditions

14 days until Christmas break now.

Needless to say, I'm very excited, as is everyone else on campus. Talk of Christmas dances on the tip of everyone's tongues. So naturally I tossed out my blog topic of this week, and in the process "caught" Emily Krajci, another fellow journalism major who is also in my class. (If you're interested in the media's influence today, check out her blog, The Price of Entertainment.)

When I asked Emily if she grew up believing in Santa, she said, "I suppose I did." (those early memories can be pretty foggy.) She thinks she probably knew it was her parents, but her mom would write "from Santa" or "Mrs. Claus" on the gift tags.

Emily said although she and her siblings would give Santa treats on Christmas Eve and receive gifts "from Santa" on Christmas Day, her parents were never pushy about Santa, insisting that Old St. Nick must be real. Her family just had fun with the whole Santa tradition. She also has 3 or 4 siblings who are still of the age to believe in Santa, so the older siblings join in being "Santa's helpers" to make the day fun and magical for the younger ones. 

"We've always put out carrots (for the reindeer) and cookies (for Santa) on a plate," Emily said. They've had a porcelain cup for years that has Santa designs all around it, and they fill it with milk for Santa as well.

Over the years Emily's family has sometimes diverted slightly from their tradition and done something creative, though equally fun.

Spreading that Santa Clause Cheer

His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!

His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!

His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,

And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,

And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.

He had a broad face and a little round belly,

That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,

And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!

Though this passage I pulled from Clement Clarke Moore's famous poem, "T'was the Night Before Christmas," doesn't mention the name of person it describes, I'm sure you've already guessed who it is--Santa Claus, of course!

Moore's poem pictures Old St. Nick as we know him today and gave us the idea of his appearance and personality (plump and jolly) and his activity on the night of Christmas Eve (coming down the chimney to deliver gifts and his eight reindeer.)

Originally, Santa (St. Nicholas) was just an ordinary man.

Week 10: Telling your kids there is a Santa Claus vs. Telling them he doesn't exist

In case you didn't notice from my last post's title, I'm in the Christmas mood. In fact, we were actually decorating the house for Christmas when I typed out the post that I titled with a line from the Grinch song.

So since it's all I can think about right now, I'm finishing off my blog posting with a Christmas topic.

But first let's clear up something----------------SPOILER ALERT FOR CHILDREN!-----------------

"I wouldn't touch you with a thirty-nine-and-a-half foot pole."

Though I think I've mentioned him in one or two of my other posts, I have never formally introduced my brother Evan.

And now I have.

I'm featuring Evan for this week's topic mainly because he inspired this week's topic. Although he is not a full-fledged germaphobe, nor OCD about germs and cleaning, he is rather acutely aware of other people's less than hygienic habits.

"I'm grossed out by things easily. In general, other people gross me out." That's how he put it. And believe me, just because I'm family doesn't mean I'm excluded from that statement in any way. Nor my dad. Nor my mom. All people gross him out.

So this week I'm letting him tell his side, partially because it was rather fascinating to hear what bothers him exactly and why, and partially because I owe it to him for all those times I teased him (to my shame) about the way he wouldn't drink or eat after us. (Maybe this is a good time to confess that I even drank out of his drink once or twice and didn't tell him. I won't rat my dad out though...)

Excuse me, exactly how many germs are on that?

Apparently, I'm always one day behind. During my last week of blog posting, I found out about America Recycles Day the day after this national go green day. This time, I found tips for staying germ free during Thanksgiving...on Black Friday. Oh, well. Today is Thanksgiving in my mind. My mom was sick yesterday, so we decided to postpone the big feast one day.

The fact that my mom got sick at such an "inconvenient" time (Isn't that what always happens?) made me think about what caused her 24 hour virus. Germs obviously. But could she have avoided getting sick by being a little more OCD about germs? Perhaps so.

Now just a little clarification, in this week's topic I'm not exactly arguing for full-fledged germaphobia, which is actually considered a mental condition. (You should read some of the online germaphobe chat rooms where people advise other people how to calm themselves from a traumatic germ experience by sitting down and taking deep calming breaths for 15 minutes. And here's a funny article about "Confessions of a Germaphobe.") Actually, I'm arguing for being more germ-aware.

Maybe you're wondering, "Am I a germaphobe?" Chances are, you're not. But to find out how germaphobic (or germ-aware) you actually are, take this short quiz.

After researching germs for a while, I've been enlightened about the billions of germs waiting out there. If you wish to remain ignorant about how much grossness lurks on everyday items, don't watch this video.  

Scary isn't it? You'll probably be repulsed forever now by your toothbrush and ice and lemons from restaurants.

So what are some ways to keep those germs away?

Week 9: Obsessed with Sanitation vs. Building your Immune System

I took a week off, but now I'm back with a new and exciting topic! I tend to be the one who eats/drinks after (almost) anyone, with the reasoning that I'm building up my immune system with every new little germ I intake. This philosophy typically works too. I rarely get sick, and I definitely get sick less than my friends who are extremely careful to avoid germs.

But I know plenty of people who are the opposite. They avoid eating or drinking after others (even family), use hand sanitizer or wash their hands frequently. Some people I know do this because they are trying to avoid getting sick, but others are simply grossed out by the thought of sharing other people's germs.

So this week I'll be taking the position of what most people affectionately call "germaphobes."

On this issue, people sometimes have a very difficult time understanding the other side. Non-germaphobes find the obsession annoying, and often rather rude and snobbish. Germaphobes are often repulsed by the "nons" habits/practices of sharing and supposed "lack of sanitation." Hopefully, this week I can help share how germaphobes really feel, and why they obsess about sanitation. 

Jess Meyer: Advice about recycling from Down Under

Meet Jess Meyer, a senior international studies major, who grew up Australia. Beside the fact that Jess grew up speaking a with a different accent in a country 8-9,000 miles away, she said there is one major difference between Australia and the United States. Australia is clean.

She said that in Australia, you never see trash anywhere, whether in the streets, the mall, or wherever, on the ground. "People are very quick to pick trash up."

According to Jess, one of the main reasons Australians are so conscientious about littering has to do with the fact that Australians love animals. "If you threw a piece of trash on the ground an Australian would probably come up and give you a lecture about what animals could possibly eat the trash and die," she said. A website about Australia said, "Australia has more than 378 mammal species, 828 bird species, 4000 fish species, 300 species of lizards, 140 snake species, two crocodile species and around 50 types of marine mammal."

Since Australians don't leave trash laying around, it naturally follows that they'd be in favor of recycling, which they are. Jess said the Australian government really pushes recycling, but Australians are already very conscientious about it.

Jess gave several reasons in favor of recycling:

Give that plastic bottle a chance.

America Recycles Day was yesterday, November 15. RecycleSpot.org defines it as "a national campaign to raise awareness about the benefits of recycling and buying products made with recycled materials."

Millions of people across America took part in this day, many joining or hosting "recycling events."

Recycling has many benefits. Saving the environment (i.e. the ocean, animals, and trees), reducing the use of toxic chemicals and the need for landfills, saving money/good for the economy.

I'm not going to attempt to argue for all of it, but I will show how one small thing can make a great impact for good or bad.

So let's take the recycled plastic bottle, for example. You might think a plastic bottle can only be recycled into more plastic. Not true! Although many recycled plastic bottles are molded into "new" plastic shapes, like lawn chairs and CD cases, many of the bottles are cut down into little flakes, turned into fibers, and then used to make fabric. That fabric is then turned into various articles of clothing, such as, t-shirts, hats, and bags, or insulation for sleeping bags or bedding. Amazing isn't it? Take a look at the exact process of turning a plastic bottle into a t-shirt.

I was thinking about the comment my friend made in my last post, "Everything we have or make comes from the earth, and it's going to decompose back into the earth at some point." So I decided to research if what she said was accurate. The first article that appeared after I Google searched, "How long does it take a plastic bottle to decompose?" refuted my friend's statement. 450 years at least. That's how long most plastic bottles take to decompose. So if I throw a bottle on the ground, it would take 5 or 6 generations after me for that bottle to biodegrade. The article went on to say, "Bottles made with Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET or PETE) will never biodegrade."

I've only focused on one small aspect (plastic bottles) of recycling, but many other materials, such as paper, cardboard, glass, aluminum, etc., can also be recycled.

You don't have to wait until Nov. 15 next year to start recycling. Taking care of the world God gave us starts with each individual making a difference each day. So take time to recycle that plastic bottle because, after all, plastic bottles dream big too.

Week 8: To Recycle or Not to Recycle?

Recycling, upcycling, "going green." Society today is consumed with saving the planet and bettering it for future generations.

I used to adamantly say, "What's the point of recycling? This world can't perish until God destroys it." Honestly, that is true. Also, I know that we should care about and for the earth—God "put (Adam) in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it," (Gen 2:15 ESV) and Genesis 1:28 says that God told man to subdue and have dominion over the earth—but failing to recycle some plastic bottles won't destroy the planet.

I heard one friend put it this way, "Everything we have or make comes from the earth, and it's going to decompose back into the earth at some point."

So while I'm not as flippant or dogmatic in my stance "against" recycling as I used to be, I'm still not crazy about "going green." And I'm sorry, but I don't go out of my way to recycle.

This week however, I'm going to learn more about recycling and why people do it. I'm going to defend and support recycling. And just maybe, I'll come out of it wanting to "go green."

Apple "follower" Josh Hilliard: Apple is easy to use

The extent of my knowledge of Apple products like Macs and iPhones consists of me checking Facebook or calling from those devices for, at the most, five minutes. So in order to argue fairly for Apple, I knew I needed to talk to someone who actually owned those products.

Meet Josh Hilliard, one of my fellow journalism and mass communication majors. When I asked him if he considered himself an Apple follower, he replied, "Yeah, I am." He owns not only a Mac, but also an iPhone and an iPad mini.

Josh wasn't always hooked on Apple, though. He actually grew up using Windows. I asked him what made him switch, and he said it was because at home, they used an old Windows desktop, and he was always frustrated with it. He had never really tried the Apple operating system, but figured it had to be better than Windows. So when it was time to go to college, he decided to make the switch to Apple.

He started off with the Macbook, and then got the iPhone for his music and iPad mini to put books on it. Josh said one of the best things about it is that they're all connected wirelessly, so he can sync his files, music, etc. if each device is connected to WiFi.

And for the past two or three years, Josh has continued to stick with Apple products mainly because it's so easy to go back and forth between his iPad mini, iPhone and Mac. He has "pages" or Google docs where he takes notes on his iPad in class, and then transfers the notes to his other Apple devices later.

Also, Josh likes his Mac more than other PCs because the interface  seems easier to use. He especially likes the trackpad and its multi-touch gestures, which you use to tap open apps and swipe to different desktop screens. "It was intuitive for me to learn (it)." he said.

According to Josh, since Macs are easier to use, they save you lots of time and stress that Windows wouldn't. For Josh, this is what makes the Mac worth the higher price-tag.

His summary: "In general, Apple seems easier to use."

What's so appealing about Apple?

I admit. I came extremely close to titling this post with a very cheesy play-on-words..."Apple-ealing"...or something like that. So close, in fact, that I had to include it in my opening paragraph. "You're welcome" or "I'm sorry." Whichever applies.

Anyway, on to the real point of this post. As I mentioned in my last post, more than 55 million homes in America use Apple products, and they must have a pretty good reason for doing so, especially since Apple products come with such a high price tag. Following are just a few of the reasons people love Apple products:

1) Simplicity--"Macs are easy to use" is the general consensus by most. And since Mac's operating system hides most of the "unnecessary" stuff (for us non-tech savvy people) and provides nice little apps to click on instead of making users search through hidden files, many people prefer it.

2) Safety--i.e. Minimal viruses. Though there is always a possibility for your computer to get a virus, Computer Hope says, "the likelihood of an Apple Macintosh user getting a virus when compared to a Microsoft Windows user is very little to none."  Why is this? One site said the reason for the security of Apple products is because not many viruses have been designed for Macs yet, and also, because most of the viruses that have been created are designed not to penetrate Mac's operating system (OS), but for gullible users. Many Apple users don't even have antivirus software and can ultimately save money in the long run because just removing one virus can cost several hundred dollars. Computer savvy people advise that the best way to keep viruses out of your Mac is to keep your computer's system updated. That and don't click on things that look even remotely suspicious.

3) Consistency and Predictability--This site says, "OS X's (Macs operating system) logical, minimalist interface simply involves fewer things that must be learned and relearned." And Mac users typically have less trouble with their computers crashing or slowing down. This consistency can be very helpful at crunch-time for that English paper or project.

4) Compatibility--One of the coolest features of Apple is that all of it's products can be synced to one another. Also, according to this site, Apple products are more compatible with Microsoft Office than people realize, and Apple products continue to grow in compatibility with other "peripheral" products.

There are other reasons people choose Apple products, but these are some of the most appealing ones.

Week 7: Mac vs. PC

I know. I know. Mac is a PC (personal computer). For all you computer geniuses--I did it on purpose for the rest of the us because that's how everyone differentiates between Apple and anything with Windows, Linux or other operating system.

I'm taking a big risk choosing this topic. My brother would probably joke that I'm crossing some sort of line. He's one of those computer geniuses, and ever since I can remember he's disliked Mac/Apple. Hence, to this day, when someone asks one of those top 10 make-or-break relationship question, "Mac or PC?" I always answer, "PC."

This week, however, I'll lay aside my familial bias toward PC and argue for Mac.

No one doubts the fact that Apple has become a great company. Not when half of American households own an Apple product. "More than 55 million homes," USAToday and CNBC reported last year.

So this week, bring on the iWorld.

P.S.--Please forgive me for typing these posts on a non-Mac PC. It would take me twice as long if I tried to learn how to operate a Mac just for one week of blogging.

Cameron Hall: (unofficial) Coffee Connoisseur

On a college campus, it's quite easy to find people who love coffee, but I was looking for someone a little more specific. Someone who could defend the cause of coffee for a higher reason than caffeine addiction. Someone who appreciated the nuances of coffee like I appreciate the nuances of tea.

So let me introduce you to Cameron Hall, a senior business major here at my university. He started drinking coffee for the caffeine his sophomore year of college. During finals week, he was really tired and decided to start drinking coffee. "There were peppermint mochas, so that's what I got started on," he said.

However, it was when I asked Cameron to describe drinking a cup of coffee that I knew I was talking not to a coffee drinker, but a coffee connoisseur (like my dad.) How did I know? He didn't answer with one description, but instead said the experience varies based on what type of coffee he's drinking at the time. By types of coffee, he meant origins--or where the coffee is from--and roasts. (Here's a comprehensive list of different roasts.)

Taking a sip: first the body, which is the the feel of the coffee, hits your tongue. And depending on the origin or roast, the body is always different . Then you dissect the different notes or flavors that come from the beans. Some coffees are more acidic, others have chocolate or fruity or spicy notes.

To savor the full effect, Cameron drinks his coffee in small sips so he can taste each one of the notes that particular cup of coffee has.

But why does Cameron prefer coffee over tea? Simpy because he prefers the flavor of coffee better. "I don't like the plant notes you get out of tea. And also, tea has a lot lighter flavor to me than coffee," he said.

He also just enjoys the learning process. "There are different things you can experience (with coffee), and the ways you can be hands on with your coffee are almost endless." Like different kinds of brewing methods for instance. He said it's pretty easy even to start roasting your own coffee beans. "It's just fun to experiment with it. Plus, you don't have to pay four bucks to go buy a cup at Starbucks once you've gotten good at making coffee."

Can't top that argument!

Drink More Coffee!

So I thought about proving how coffee is better than tea health-wise or something, but apparently, they're about equally beneficial.

If you're looking to add to your list of reasons to drink coffee, this guy gives some other possible benefits of coffee, like providing antioxidants, making you smarter, helping you burn fat, decrease your risk of liver problems, diabetes, and Alzheimer's. (I have to disagree with his "lower your risk of death" point since I'm pretty sure that there isn't anything humanly we can do to lower our risk of dying.)

So instead, I thought it'd be fun to just pick several of the coffee "types," tell a little bit about each, and Starbucks gives some nutrition facts and fun facts under each category.

1) Espresso is the base for all other coffee drinks. It's a higher concentration of coffee and has more caffeine per unit volume, so it's served in a smaller "shot-glass" sized coffee mug.

2) Caffè macchiato is just one step up from espresso because it just adds a little bit of milk and foam on top. The name literally means "espresso stained/marked with milk." Try a Caramel or Hazelnut Macchiato (hot or cold.)

3) Lattes or caffellatte (in Italian) which means "milk coffee" because it's a mixture of coffee and steamed milk. The first thing that comes to mind when I think of lattes is, of course, Starbucks' Pumpkin Spice Latte. Need I say more? Lattes are probably my favorite coffee drink, especially when "over-ice" or chilled (crushed up ice). Oh, and since Starbucks is about to move on to other holiday drinks, here's a way to keep that pumpkin spice going year-round. aka-diy! (Let me know if it's any good.)

Week 6: Coffee vs. Tea

8 weeks into this semester. Week 6 of this blog. Many, if not all college students (including myself), are tired. And I think most people, even outside the university sphere, are very ready for the holidays. A break. Whatever.

So I figured, why not do a fun topic--Coffee vs. Tea. It's very applicable because who doesn't need/want a caffeine boost when they reach the level of fatigue college and careers bring?

I know this topic isn't exactly "controversial." I suppose it's more along the preference side, but some people do get pretty defensive about their choice of caffeinated beverage.

For the most part, Americans made their choice back 1773. I mean, they kind of had to find an alternative beverage after they decided to brew all their tea in the Boston Harbor. So today, we associate tea with the sophisticated British or Europeans in general, and coffee with the rough and tough, hardworking American spirit.

Now I realize those are broad (probably inaccurate) generalizations, and I should probably clarify my statement about the whole Boston Tea thing as a joke and not factual history, but I personally tend to fall on the whole tea side of things. I grew up drinking tea. I absolutely love it. My dad is the coffee connoisseur considering he actually buys the beans green and roasts his own coffee. Apparently, the gene didn't rub off on me though. I can count the number of cups of coffee I drank my freshman year (year, not semester) on one hand.

So this week, I'll take the position of coffee.

And just for the fun of it, here are a couple quotes about coffee...

"A morning without coffee is like sleep." ~Anonymous

or

"Sleep is a symptom of caffeine deprivation." ~Anonymous

and

"To me, the smell of fresh-made coffee is one of the greatest inventions." ~Hugh Jackman

Feel free to add other quotes!

What's your Trick or Treat experience?

Obviously since I've only been Trick or Treating once in my life (and I was too young when I went to recollect anything), I need the stories and experiences of others to show what a great time Halloween can be.

This week I'm not using the opinion of one interviewee, but of several! All of these people grew up Trick or Treating, loved it, and say that someday they would definitely let their kids go Trick or Treating on Halloween.

Gwyn- She grew up in a neighborhood with a lot of elderly people so her parents never really worried about safety issues. And I think it's safe to guess that her neighbors gave out some of the best treats. Her favorite thing about going Trick or Treating was just spending time with her little siblings. One time she remembers dressing up with her little brother as a pair of matching bears.

Angela- "You get to dress up and look adorable!" And when she mentioned that her favorite costume was dressing up like Raggedy Anne, I can imagine that she looked adorable every year. Angela loved going every year with her brother and parents. She also stated that now as a business major, she looks at it as an opportunity for "free" goods. "It's free candy!" she said, then added that if your kids are sitting at home watching all the other kids having a good time, you'd better have a pretty good reason for not letting them join in the fun. 

No, Really! It's Not All About the Candy...

Trick or Treat? I mentioned in my last post that Halloween has grown significantly in popularity as a holiday. As this article states, many adults in America celebrate Halloween (almost 66 percent), and Americans spend nearly $7 billion—$2 billion of that on candy alone—for this one night of Trick or Treating. So what's the draw? Surely it's not just to blow a hundred or have your kids stock up on candy for the next year and a half.

So here are some other benefits of going Trick or Treating, besides the obvious, sugar overdose.

• It's fun! Outside of Hollywood, when else can you dress up like someone or something totally different from your norm? You get to knock on random people's doors and are given free candy for it! Halloween is a great excuse to be just a little bit crazy and have some good clean fun.

• It's a perfect time for bonding with family and friends. First you and your kids can work on costumes together. Creating a homemade costume gives your children a greater appreciation for the costumes they are wearing. It also teaches your children how to work together, save money, become more creative and imaginative (like this dad). I asked several of my friends, who went Trick or Treating when they were younger, what their favorite was about it, and the most common answer surprised me.

Week 5: "Trick or Treat" or not...

It's almost that time of year again. No, I'm not talking about Christmas. I'm referring to Halloween which will be here in just over a week. This holiday has grown in popularity over the years, and many people decorate for it almost as much as for Christmas. A drive through my hometown neighborhood proves that.

Some people hold that it's a wicked holiday that shouldn't be observed. (i.e. Don't even give out candy that day in case people mistaken your actions as condoning Halloween.) Others say it's just a day of fun for kids and even adults, and a deeper meaning shouldn't be read into it. And then there are those who go just a tad over-the-top...

I'm not really taking sides about that in this week's topic, but instead I want to take the opposite side of my opinion about the question, "Should you let your kids go trick or treating?"

People say that most do as their parents did, and I guess that's probably the main reason for my opinion over this issue. Except for when I was 4, I've never been trick or treating. My parents had a number of reasons, all of them very good, and quite frankly, we always had a blast in my family doing other things that night (like watching movies or going out to eat or something else fun.)

But this week I'm going to defend why you should let your children go trick or treating.

Catherine McCrary: Teaching a Second Language to the Young

Voicing the opposite of my opinion this week is Catherine McCrary, one of my fellow journalism and mass communication majors.

I first discovered Catherine's opinion on this week's topic (English only vs. Bilingualism) when she and I were preparing for a radio interview for a class project. I had actually wanted to try this topic several weeks ago (before I knew Catherine's stance on the issue), so naturally, I was really excited when she brought the topic up. This nice little coincidence meant that I didn't have to go around asking people if they had the opinion "op-me" about adding a "second" language here in the U.S.

I put second in quotations, because as I talked about in my last post, the U.S. doesn't even have an official "first" language, even though most people speak English.

Anyway, so during my interview with Catherine, she really emphasized that it's important for children to learn other languages from a young age. Why? "Because children have an amazing aptitude for learning language at a young age," she said. And right now in America, the logical choice of a second language for children to learn would be Spanish (in case you haven't noticed). When I asked her whether children in America should be required to study Spanish all through school, she quickly and adamantly replied, "Absolutely!"

She stated that children in other parts of the world are required to learn English in school, not just because English is a global commerce language, but also because immersing a child in another language at an early age has been proven to increase IQ or standardized test scores. Catherine gave an example from Canada, where children were immersed in French for the first 3 years of school. When they entered the 4th grade, the Canadian children were finally taught in English, and by that time they were fluent in both languages, had an appreciation for French-Canadian culture, and had higher IQs.

This fascinating article expounds on the example that Catherine gave.

So how does language make a person "smarter" per se?

It's in the Constitution! Or is it?

"America is an English-speaking country." "Immigrants should learn our language when they come to live in America."

These are some of the dogmatic statements made by people who are against bilingualism in the United States. But although English is the most commonly spoken language in America now, constitutionally, it is not our official language. In fact, America actually has no official language. So people have no right to say otherwise, or call immigrants un-American for not speaking only or mainly English.

Perhaps it's even time for Americans to consider becoming bilingual, either individually or as a whole nation.

One article in the Huffington Post suggests that for political and economic purposes, America would be wise to become a bilingual nation. The author of that article, Steve Leveen, made one statement in the article that I found especially thought-provoking. "When you think about it, isn't it our rightful place as the nation of immigrants to be the most bilingual of nations?"

Week 4: America—English only vs. Bilingualism

In a nation that is the "melting-pot" of every other nation, the standard has always been to stick with one language. And since the United States' primary roots are from England, that language has always been English. However, in recent years, the mass influx of Hispanic-speaking people to the U.S. has caused some to rethink the whole "monolingual" policy and wonder if making Spanish our "second-language" would perhaps be very beneficial to American society as a whole.

My stance is that we didn't make any exceptions in the past, so why now? Come to America. Learn our language.

Now I am definitely not a culture-hater. I love the Spanish language, and I'm studying it now! But this week's topic isn't about my opinion, obviously. If you want to know more about where I stand, the article, "English Spoken Here," by Kathleen Parker sums it up well.

This week I will focus on the benefits of making the United States a bilingual nation—specifically by adding Spanish as our second language.

Choosing the perfect hair color

Big breakup. New career or chapter of your life. Boredom or want of change (in my roommates' case). These are some main reasons people color their hair.

According to a 2012 statistic, 75% of women dye their hair in some way. That could mean going to a stylists, which a good job will cost anywhere from $60-100 dollars. Or you could do it yourself, which would probably cost around $4-20 (assuming something doesn't go horribly wrong like it did for Anne.)

So without taking your hair through the trial and error ordeal, how can you find your perfect hair color?

Roomie hair coloring advice—Give it a try!

I was racking my brain trying to come up with someone I could interview for this week’s topic. It seemed a little rude to just walk up to someone and say, “Hey do you color your hair a lot? Want to be interviewed for my blog about why people should color their hair?” For some reason, I don’t think they’d take it the right way…

And I’d probably be forced to backtrack. “Not that it looks like you color your hair—I mean, it looks really natural! I just thought… Nevermind…”

Then it hit me. My roommates! If this week’s topic was inspired by them, why shouldn’t I interview them about their experience and their opinions?

So meet Angela and Victoria. (I have a third roommate, Hope, who also colored her hair, but she wasn’t in the room when I interviewed the other two.)

Angela first started coloring her hair this past summer. (I think she tried a shade of red.) This time, she and Hope colored a blondish streak into the bottom layer of their hair. I say “they colored,” but actually it was Victoria who did the honors. The streak is really only visible when they have an up-do.

Victoria didn’t do the streak this time because she already likes the way she colored her hair a couple months ago, which is a blond, highlighted look.  

Both Angela and Victoria agreed that one reason each colors her hair is for a new look—just something different. “I get bored,” Angela said, and Victoria agreed, “Yeah, sometimes you just get sick and tired of your old look.”

Week 3: Coloring your hair vs. Keeping it natural

My roommates have inspired me. Or at least my topic for this week...

Right now they're all heading to the store down the street to buy some hair dye. They asked if I wanted to join. I do not because I like my hair color, and I have no desire to change it.

Then I thought, "Hey! There's a debatable topic!" And thus my topic for this week.

On my side, I realize the main argument for not dying your hair is that it stays healthier. But honestly, that's not really why I don't color it. I guess I just really like the hair color God gave me.

 ~~~~~

Well the roomies are back now. And they've just finished dying a strip of their hair. (See picture.) It looks pretty good, and I know they had a great time doing it. 

Right now, hair coloring is fairly popular. It's also fun, and (in the case of my roommates) a great way to bond! I guess those are 3 good reasons for coloring your hair. 

So cue week 3: Coloring your hair vs. Keeping it natural.

Words from Juliet

While sitting up in the lobby for journalism students with some fellow journalism majors, I brought up my blog topic for this week. One of the girls, Juliet Eby quickly stated "I definitely want to be a career mom." So of course, I immediately asked her if she would be willing to be interviewed about her opinion for this blog.

Juliet said she wants to be a career mom, mainly because she wants to have a career. This statement might sound obvious, almost redundant, but when she expounded on it, it really made a lot of sense. She said she wants to continue developing her talents by actually using them. Basically what our hypothetical "Rene" (in my last post) wanted. She didn't want to waste the time and money it took her to learn how to be a journalist. Or more specifically, a copy writer for an advertising agency (which is her desire after graduation.)

Her next reason made me laugh a little. "I don't necessarily want my kids to be stuck with me all day." She quickly clarified that that didn't mean she didn't want to be with her kids. The advice "everything in moderation" would probably be a good comparison.

Instead, Juliet would prefer that her children would be able to go to a daycare where they could play with other children besides their siblings. "I think they'd have more opportunities to explore, use their imaginations, and learn team work with other kids at an early age," Juliet said. She added that they would also learn to respect an authority outside the home from a young age.

Of course there are other reasons that women want to continue their careers after becoming moms.

Be a Career Mom—Guilt-Free

Let me present a scenario.

A young lady (I'll call her Rene) graduates from high school and chooses her major—let's say pre-med. After 4 years of undergrad, Rene completes her degree which she has now fallen in love with. At the same time, she falls in love with a guy (Craig) she met at school. The two get married right after Rene graduates and move back to Craig's hometown near Durham, North Carolina. While Craig works at a local business, Rene decides to continue her education and applies to Duke University to become a physician assistant.

Within 3 years, Rene finishes her schooling and begins working in the area. But in the meantime, Craig and Rene discover they are about to start a family. Rene now has to make a choice. Does she waste her years of education (and money obtaining it)? Does she forfeit her job to remain home? Craig has a good paying job, so it isn't as if they would suffer without her added income. But Rene loves being a physician assistant.

This little "story" is completely hypothetical, but it represents the situation thousands, perhaps millions of moms find themselves in each year. What if I tell you that Rene loves her job and career path, and wants to work full-time (like 32% of mothers in the U.S.) She also feels that she would be able to balance her home and work life. You might ask, "Why does she hesitate in her decision?"

Week 2: Career Mom vs. Stay-at-Home Mom

This week I chose “career” mom vs. “stay-at-home” mom as my topic. I’ve always been pretty adamant about staying at home once I have kids, mainly because my mom stayed at home with my brother and me. I loved it! I have wonderful memories of going to the aquarium, library, and park. Of her reading to us and watching shows with us in the middle of the day. I knew my mom was always there for me. When I was at school, she would bring me something I forgot at home or take me home and care for me when I was sick. 

Some call this “spoiled.” I call it “blessed.”  Several of my friends would tell me they wished their own moms would have been home more, done more fun things with them. I don’t want my kids saying that of me some day.

Earlier today, though, I was awakened to the idea that there are not just two sides to this coin. In between is the “working” mom. A mother who has to work to either provide or help provide for her family or to help lessen the load of the father (keeping him from having multiple jobs.) This is not the type of mom that this week’s topic will side with, because like the “stay-at-home” mom, I already agree with “working” mom.

­­Last week I defended homeschooling, and through my hours of research, I’ve actually become more open to the idea of homeschooling. (Though I have not become a “die-hard” homeschool advocate by any stretch of the imagination.)

I don’t think my opinion will be as susceptible to change on this issue as with the homeschooling one, but who knows? So here goes Week 2: “Career Mom vs. Stay-at-Home Mom.”

Meet Charlotte

Friendly. Poised. Stylish. If I had met Charlotte Bradley on the sidewalk, I probably would have thought she was a typical Christian/private schooler like myself. "Homeschool" never would have crossed my mind.

But that's exactly what Charlotte was—homeschooled. And she was kind enough to tell me about her experience being educated at home.

First though, let me introduce you to Charlotte. She is a senior humanities major from Florida. She focuses on writing and history within her major (both of which she loves.) Right now she is looking at graduate school after she graduates in May. Charlotte was homeschooled for all of her pre-college education, and she also has a brother and three sisters who were/are being homeschooled.

Charlotte enjoyed being homeschooled, but she said she appreciates it even more looking back on it now. Homeschooling had only one drawback for her—a lack of social interaction. "Otherwise, I loved it!" Charlotte said. "I liked having control over my own schedule."

"Homeschooled" or "Homeschooler?"

Homeschooling has gotten a bad rap in the past, but a lot has been changing in recent years. The number of homeschooled children from K to 12 has risen nearly 75% since 1999.  Research estimates that over 2 million children in the United States are now being educated at home.

I have several friends who are quick to clarify, “I was homeschooled. I am not a homeschooler!” What’s the difference, you ask? Well I would say “homeschooled” simply means the parents chose to educate their children at home, but still made sure their children received all the proper socialization. Probably the worst stigma about homeschooling is social ineptitude which often describes a “homeschooler.”

This homeschooled girl explains the difference pretty well. (The first 3 or 4 minutes are the best part.) And if you want further description of a “homeschooler”—or just a good laugh—watch Tim Hawkins.

That pretty much sums up all the stigmas people have about “homeschoolers.” I’m sure there are still a number of “homeschoolers,” but I’m going to focus on “homeschooling” and some of its benefits (in no particular order.)

Week 1: Homeschooling vs. Private or Public Schooling

I've chosen homeschooling as my first topic. When I introduce the new topic for each week, I will give a short statement of my current position before arguing for the "opposite side." On this topic I tend to lean toward "traditional" schooling--that is, in a classroom setting with other children.

I think the main reason I'm not totally sold on homeschooling yet is because I know of several cases where the parents homeschooled simply because they wanted their child to make As. So they'd let their child take and retake quizzes and tests until they got As. That rubs me the wrong way for some reason...

However, I realize these are just a couple cases in millions, which is exactly why I want to listen to the other side.