WTHamptons

17 Jul

665985I spent this past weekend in the Hamptons with a few girlfriends doing some birthday celebrating (not mine, I’ve already had my day in the spotlight this year).  While summer weekends should be spent licking ice cream cones at Marvel (vanilla with choc crunchies please) and drinking high sugar fruity cocktails, I managed to maintain some semblance of my WTHealthy kick.

This weeks hump day recipe is the WT Watermelon Martini.  Packed with a punch (because I never went to bartending school and tend to have a heavy hand), this concoction is sure to have you bouncing (possibly on a trampoline) on the dance floor till the wee hours of the morn.

*WT Watermelon Martini (Serves 2-4 – depending on how big your Red Solo cup is)
2 – 3 cups of freshly sliced watermelon (feeling lazy? buy the one already cut)
1/2 cup of raspberries (makes it a little tart but totally tasty.  Feel free to add any other kind of berries as well)
1/2 cup of Vodka (maybe start with a 1/4 cup and add as you see fit… the more the merrier)
1 Lime, Juiced
1-2 cups of ice
3 tblsp of Sugar (optional – trying to cut back on my sugar so didn’t add this but you can use it as rim decor.  Plus, Watermelon is already packed with mother natures sugar) Or use Salt as the rim decor.
*Toss it all in a blender and blend.  If you don’t have a blender, you will need to press the watermelon through a cheesecloth(as if those are always laying around) or through a small mesh strainer into a bowl.  Should make about 1-2 cups of juice.

My other suggestions to keep your inner body clean on those supple sandy beaches, is to make sure you pack healthy snacks instead of high salty (dehydrating), high carb(nothing to offer), high processed Crappy Snacks.  (I think I may need to coin this phrase for future use)  My Clean Snacks include:

  • Fresh cut mixed fruit salad – Watermelon, Grapes, Nectarines, Canalope and Pinapple
  • Veggies and homemade Hummus* – Carrots (not the baby ones soaked in Chlorine), Trader Joes Sugar Snap Peas, Celery Sticks and Sliced Cucumber.
  • Blue Diamond Baked Nut Chips – Wheat & Gluten Free.  They are delishhhh.  I can eat a whole bag – sort of defeats the purpose but WTH.

*Hayley’s Hummus (that sounds sexual for some reason)
1 clove of garlic
1 19 oz can of Garbanzo beans (keep half the liquid)
4 tblsp of lemon juice
1 tsp of sea salt
2 tblsp of Olive Oil (divided)
2 tblsp of Tahini (optional)
Black Pepper to taste
–Toss it all in a blender (half the olive oil) and blend until creamy and well mixed.  If you want to make it look pretty, hold a few beans on the side and use on top for garnish with remaining olive oil.

Enjoy!
WTHayley

*This blog totally promotes drinking, especially on an empty stomach… while sitting on the beach… in the sun!

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WTHealthy Hump Day Recipe

11 Jul

I realize it’s the day after hump day but my hump day sucked.  So here it is the day after.

Today’s recipe:
Lotta Legs Coconut Mango Shrimp over Quinoa served with lightly cooked veggie

Serving size per person:
6 shrimp (45 calories)
1/2 cup cooked quinoa (111 calories)
2 cups of veggies (109 calories/broccoli)
1/2 mango (62 calories)
1 tblsp Coconut oil (120 calories)
(Personal Pref: Add a few sprigs of Cilantro for that clean yummy taste)

I only had time for a quick workout tonight but needed to get in a few extra leg exercises (Lots of hill to conquer at Mt. Snow in exactly 30 days) today so I mixed in my workout while prepping and cooking my dinner.

Buy the frozen shrimp at the supermarket that are already cleaned, deveined and shelled… that means they have no shell on (in case this is confusing to some of you). However you may want to make sure your shrimp are from a good source.  I attached a video to the end of this post which is sure to freak you out about things you eat.

Defrost shrimp under cold running water for 10 min.  I realize this is a waste of water but this is a healthy blog, not an environmental one.  In the spirit of my tree hugging friends, please be sure to recycle, reuse and reduce. :). If you have an hour before you cook, take a whole lemon and squeeze over defrosted shrimp and place in the fridge for an hour.  If you don’t have the hour to let them sit, you can squeeze the lemon over the shrimp while cooking.

Cook one cup of quinoa according to packaging. (Do 3 sets of 10 lunges on each leg while standing at the stove) *FunFact: Quinoa has the perfect balance of all nine amino acids essential for human nutrition.  This type of complete protein is usually found in meats (so skip the meat and eat this treat instead).  It also offers a good dose of fiber and iron.

Cut up one whole mango.  If you are only cooking for yourself, you should only eat half the mango.  (Do 2 sets of 20 squats between slicing)
*FunFact:   Fresh fruit offers so much more than the natural sugar it contains – including water, vitamins, minerals, fiber and phytonutrients (those naturally-occurring plant compounds that have wide ranging beneficial effects on the body).
I found an amazing sauce that I love which has a ‘B’ rating on the Fooducate App. HH561399-2

Take one tablespoon of coconut oil and melt in a frying pan. (10 squats while melting) Toss in the shrimp and turn to coat with oil.  (Do 10 lunges on each side while browning) Flip when slightly brown and do the same on the other side.  *FunFacts: Coconut Oil is a short and medium chain fatty acid which have many health benefits and also help in taking off excessive weight, since they are easily digested and sent right to the liver for instant energy production(increases your metabolism)  You know that extra weight around your midsection??? Coconut oil helps get rid of that.  Coconut Oil has tons of other benefits:  Skin Care, Weight Loss, Immunity, Digestion, Healing and Infections.  

When shrimp are almost done, toss in the mango and squeeze lemon juice over the pan or pour in juice they were marinating in. (10 squats)

Great veggie to eat on the side: Bok Choy, shelled edamame, broccoli, Sugar Snap Peas.  Any can be lightly steamed or very lightly sautéed in half a tablespoon of a high heat oil such as sunflower or grapeseed.  Keep veggies bright green to maintain highest levels of nutrients. Lightly salt and pepper.  I don’t add salt unless its sea salt – Himalayan from Trader Joes is awesome. (10 squats and 10 lunges on each leg while veggies are cooking)  *FunFact: The more nutrient-dense food you consume(aka VEGGIES), the more you will be satisfied with fewer calories, and the less you will crave fat and high-calorie foods. 

Add veggie and shrimp and serve over quinoa. Pour one tablespoon of Mango sauce on top or use on the side for dipping sauce for shrimp.

Prep: 10-15 min
Cooking time: 10-15 min.

Lunges: 50
Squats: 50

Calories Consumed (who cares, you’ve earned it)

Stretch Your Legs and Enjoy.

— WTHayley

 

Here’s the video I mentioned…. GROSS.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXJSmxi2buc

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WTHealthy

8 Jul

So, I’m on a major health/workout kick with one month to go until this summers Tough Mudder on August 10th.  Aside from having to get into shape that so I don’t die during the event, I was also inspired by my brother…a real life case study to curing a health problem just by eating better.

Case Study:  Back in May, my brother went to the doctor and discovered that for the first time in his life, at 43 years old, he had high blood pressure (155/85).  Growing up with a British mother, meat and potatoes were a staple at our dinner table and no meal was complete without finishing off with something sweet.  Rather than going on some blood pressure medicine, he decided to take the natural approach to finding a cure.  He went to a holistic doctor who recommended a few vitamins and supplements along with recommending ‘Eat to Live’ by Dr. Joel Fuhrman and the must-see documentary ‘Fork Over Knives’.  Along with intense exercise (Beachbody’s Insanity workout with Sean T) and a completely new outlook on food and consumption, over a 5-8 week period, he brought his blood pressure down to 120/70 and dropped about 16 pounds. (I’d post the before and after pics but he’d never speak to me ever again – however, I can be bought for the right price :-)).

Along with my brother, I too read the book and watched the movie and it has changed my life, for the better.  Our nation is literally killing itself, along with our children.  Our food pyramid couldn’t be more f’ed up.  Both the movie and the book is not meant to brainwash you but to help you understand that our own government (basically the FDA) has fooled us into the way so many of us think about the food we eat.   Over the last few weeks, I have been posting on my FB page, excerpts from the book that I find to be mind blowing and decided that I should just use my blog for the benefit of my friends and fans.    So if you follow along, I’ll be educating and sharing some amazing healthy and delicious recipes that you are sure to love.

Fascinating Fact from Eat to Live:
“Converting food fat into body fat is easy; the process doesn’t even modify the molecules. Research scientists can actually take fat biopsies off your hips or waist and tell you where it came from—pig fat, dairy fat, chicken fat, or olive oil. The fat is still the same as it was on your plate, but now it is under your skin. The saying “from your lips to your hips” is literally true.” 

Black Bean, Mango, Corn, Avocado Salad

  • 2 ripe but firm avocados, halved, peeled and cubed
  • 3 tablespoons lime juice, divided
  • 2 ripe but firm mangoes, peeled and cubed
  • 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro, plus more for garnish
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 (15 ounce) can no-salt-added Organic black beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 Stalk of Corn – Roast on the grill or Microwave and remove from stalk (or don’t use corn at all)

Add it all together in a bowl and mix.  This recipe is amazing over grilled shrimp or any kind of fish.  Want a kick?  Add a diced Jalapeno.

*Photo courtesy of WholeFoods

avomangobb-salad 

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WT New Yawk

25 Jun
 
This is a picture that my 5 year old made for me upon my return home from a weekend away.  The spelling was completely atrocious and the only thing spelled correctly was “I love you”.  🙂
 
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She’s in Kindergarten so I’m ok with it but there are times where I just feel bad that it’s not easier for her.  In retrospect, the way she spells things is hilarious because it’s exactly as she hears herself saying it, which makes me wonder, WHERE DO ACCENTS COME FROM?

What is it that causes people to say things differently?  Why do some people from the South Shaw of Looong Eyeland have deeper accents than the people on the Nawth Shaw?  Location Location Location.  We are products of our environments.

Being that I was born and raised on Long Island, the south shaw no less, you would think that I would have a strong accent.  Howeva, when people axe me where I’m from and I tell them, they always say to me ‘How come you don’t have an accent?’    My response is that my mum is British so I was raised to speak part proper and part Brooklynese (my dads side).  When I say ‘proper’, please don’t confuse that with appropriate.  If you’ve ever met my mother, you know that there was no shortage of curse words that come out of her mouth.  They just sound better when pronounced with an English accent.  Bloody Hell and Fuck Off were never in short supply around my house while growing up (and currently)…. in case anyone was wondering where I get it from…. thanks momma.

Back to New Yawkers.  Being one myself, albeit one without an accent, I find it hard to deal with people on a business level that sound like they work for the mafia.  Do some people enhance it to sound tough?  Do women exaggerate it to sound more… ummm…. jewish?  Oh my gawd?

I was standing behind a well dressed man in line the other day (looked like a lawyer) at Birch (hands down best coffee in NYC) while placing his order for Cawfy, no shugah.  Followed by ‘lemme get dat deir bagel with buttah’.  (I’m sooo not kidding or exaggerating)  Not that the Boston or the southern accent is that much better but New Yawkers get the worst wrap of all – and if you ask me, for good reason.  It’s not hot, it’s not sexy. Sometimes we just sound like a bunch of morons – no offense to Joey Tribbiani from friends. *Note that I said ‘we’ as not to offend anyone(not that some of you even realize you sound like that).

With a little shout out to the other side of the pond…. we should all make a little more effort to speak more eloquently when speaking to our children(maybe they will learn to spell correctly at a younger age) as well as when conducting ourselves in a business environment.   And for those that just don’t give a shit what you sound like… you might as well pick yourself up some of this really cute line of Brooklynese ceramics at Fishs Eddy.

 

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WT Momma

12 May

In case anyone missed it, here it is again for my amazing Mother and all of those other amazing mom’s out there.

HayleyBFoster's avatarwthayley

Momma

Is there a better time of year than this to tell your mother how much she means to you, to thank her and to let her know that she is and always will be the most wonderful and important woman in your life.  While you’re at it, don’t forget to tell her how the lessons she has taught you have had a huge impact on who you are as a person.  Tell her how there are so many days that you reflect back on being a child or a kid or a teenager, and remembering how she handled certain situations, and that you use those memories for parenting your own children.  Make sure to thank her for all of support she gives you day in and day out.

I am the woman that feels the need to tell my mother everything.  It wasn’t always this way of course.  Back in…

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WT Momma

8 May

Momma

Is there a better time of year than this to tell your mother how much she means to you, to thank her and to let her know that she is and always will be the most wonderful and important woman in your life.  While you’re at it, don’t forget to tell her how the lessons she has taught you have had a huge impact on who you are as a person.  Tell her how there are so many days that you reflect back on being a child or a kid or a teenager, and remembering how she handled certain situations, and that you use those memories for parenting your own children.  Make sure to thank her for all of support she gives you day in and day out.

I am the woman that feels the need to tell my mother everything.  It wasn’t always this way of course.  Back in the day, I thought I could hide things from her but as the saying goes… ‘Mother Always Knows’.  I couldn’t get away with a single thing in my house.  From sneaking out on a school night and going to Malibu Night Club so I could drink underage and grind with older guys on the dance floor, my mother always seemed to find a way to bust me.  She dragged me out of there by my Banana clip that night and took away my fake ID.  She also told the doorman on the way out that I was 16, which pretty much ruined my shot of returning in the near future.  Probably for the best.  I can still hear Tainted Love playing in the background on my way out.

My house always seemed to be the one people hung out at all the time (quite possibly due to the Central Air Conditioning and the comfort of 69 degrees on a hot summer day).  I remember the time when I was a Sr. in High School and a few of my girl friends and I were sitting around my kitchen table with my mom and we got onto the subject of sex.  She asked me if I was having sex with a guy friend of mine that I spent a lot of time with and I remember being shocked at the abruptness in which she just came out with it.  That was the first time I realized that she wasn’t asking to judge me or to lecture me, but more so because she just wanted to know and be involved in every aspect of my life.

Since then, she has always been the person I turn to first when I need a shoulder or advice or just to hear the soothing tone of her voice to put me at ease.  She is the person I call when I am looking for an honest answer…. there is no bullshit with her.  She tells it like it is.  (hmmm, no wonder where I get it from).  She is my rock, my strength and my sounding board.  Not a day goes by that I don’t think about her or speak to her, even just to tell her some silly little thing about my day.  She is the most beautiful person in the world, both inside and out and I couldn’t possibly love her more than I do.

So while my Hallmark card is in the mail, I realized that my mother deserves more than just a card to tell wish her a Happy Mother’s Day.  This post is for you mom.  Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for being my number one fan, for your unconditional and everlasting love and support of everything I do.  I’m the luckiest person in the world to have an amazing mother like you.   Happy Mother’s Day Momma.

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WT Whadda-ya-call-it

4 Apr

Left-or-Right-Brain-Marketer

I cracked myself up this morning wondering if from here on out, am I going to start talking about my age as if i’m over the hill? (Hell No) When I first wrote this post, I couldn’t help but think “Is it weird that my first post in my 40’s is going to be about the fact that I’m losing my memory (or my mind, not sure which yet)?” Then again, the memory loss could have been due to brain cells that I killed in my week long Birthday tare.

While I consider myself too young to be suffering mild memory loss, I saw a FB post this morning from someone who said ‘I figured that if I stay in the Supermarket long enough, I’ll remember what I came here for’. I had to laugh, especially since I’m pretty sure she’s a few years younger than I am. I do this all the time. Not only do I often find myself running back to the produce section at least two times in one visit, but there are times I find myself returning to the market a second and third time in one day. Other times, I get home and as soon as I’ve put the groceries away, I’m starting a new list of all the things that I forgot to get.

When I tell my 70 year old mother these stories, it makes her feel better that it she’s not the only forgetful one in the family. I told her she’d better watch it or I’ll forget what old age home I check her into – you know I’m kidding momma, I’d make sure to write it down somewhere. (wink wink)

I specifically remember times when my dad would struggle to remember something and he’d say ‘Where’s the whadda-ya-call-it?’ (My mom and brother are totally laughing right now). I did a little research for you that will provide a few tips of salvaging your memory and enhancing your brain function. I also read most of Moonwalking with Einstein by Joshua Foer and then I forgot where I put it. I’m kidding. I’m pretty sure the second version of 50 Shades was published while I was in the middle of it and well… you know how that goes.

I did some research and unearthed a few foods that help with cognitive decline, increase focus and enhance clarity:
–Walnuts – high in Alpha Linolenic Acid – promotes blood flow, delivering more oxygen to the brain.  Other nuts that are high in Vitamin E have been known to help cognitive decline (hazelnuts, almonds, cashews, peanuts, flax (buy raw and not roasted/salted or flavored to get the most out of your nuts)
— Salmon and other fatty fish – high levels of Omega 3 fatty acids, EPA and DHA – have been linked to lower risk of dementia, better focus and improved memory.
— Coffee – (love this one – my excuse to keep on drinking it) – Caffeine has been shown to improve mental acuity keeping you more alert, antioxidants help maintain brain health and some research says it helps with depression in women.
— Berries – Blue/Staw/Acai – Any berries will do.  These are the highest in antioxidants, and when merged with free radicals that are ever present in our bodies, they render them harmless.  Just eat them.  They are good and good for you.  Buy organic – less pesticides.
— Dark Chocolate (another favorite) – filled with incredibly powerful antioxidants and natural stimulants which help produce endorphins, which help improve your mood.  So, while good for your brain(in moderation – no more than 1 oz a day), also good for your libido.  Wow, who knew.  Actually, I knew but I’ve been holding out on you.  Every now and then you’ll see me pop a Dark Chocolate Lindt Truffle into my mouth.

Please keep in mind that eating an entire bag of walnuts before an exam or big presentation isn’t going to suffice.  You need to maintain a healthy diet – 4-6 small meals a day, plenty of greens, fruits and foods that are whole/real and full of nutrients.  Oh, and don’t forget to hydrate.  Having to get up multiple times to go to the bathroom a day helps blood flow too.

The BEST trick I learned from Moonwalking with Einstein:
Name Association – how many times do you meet someone and forget their name?  Most likely, 9 out of 10 – and that’s me being nice.  Next time you meet someone and want to remember their name, repeat it back to them and as you’re saying it (Mary, so nice to meet you), try to associate it with something familiar to you or something funny (Scary Mary is so Hairy).  Or, do they have the same name or one that rhymes with a relative (Nick, he looks like Uncle Dick.  Or Andy reminds me of Sandy who loves to eat Candy)?  You can also link it to a favorite food/state/restaurant/etc. (Melanie/Melon).  Just make sure you don’t say these things out loud or you’ll look like moron, which pretty much defeats the purpose.

I forgot what I was going to end with so…..

WTHayley

(P.S. – I chose the image for this post showing left brain and right brain because I can never remember which one I am – clearly a weird combo of both, but mostly left.  Don’t judge me by my blogging creativity skills.  I might be fun, free and can play the bass clarinet, but I make a mean ass excel chart and my math skills are exeptional.)

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WT Happy Anniversary

25 Mar

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I can’t believe it’s been a year since I started this silly blog on a whim.  Who would have thought that a year later I’d still be going at it.  Whether I’m toting a tutu, getting down and dirty in the mud or just venting about the man that misses the bowl (the bathroom at the office has been much cleaner as of late), I’m extremely thankful for those of you that continue to follow me and especially thankful for those that send me comments.  I love the feedback and commentary so please keep it coming.

What’s in store for the future of WTHayley?  Who the hell knows… but then again, that’s probably what people like most – you never know what you’re going to get.  What I can tell you is this… I’ve got lots of good stories and while some people are very thankful that theirs have not been posted for the (social) world to see, I’ll try to keep you entertained moving forward.  While my posts about health and wellness are fun, the sex and love bits seem to be my most popular and usually my favorite (although my mother doesn’t always approve… and the posts on this blog are actually somewhat appropriate).

To keep this short and sweet (I’m exhausted and want to go to bed), THANK YOU for following and stay tuned for more to come.

WTHayley

WT Hangover

19 Mar

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(Please note that this was written on January 1, 2013 and I guess I was too hungover to remember to post)  Enjoy.

For starters, THANK YOU to my followers that have been reading, commenting and following my blog for the last 10 months.  I love writing and there is nothing more motivating that having people send me emails or make comments on my blog saying how much they enjoy it…. so Thank You.  I hope to continue to entertain, educate and inspire in 2013.

I’m happy to say that today was spent without a hangover.  Not sure how… might have been the massive amount of food I consumed over the course of the afternoon and evening and the endless glasses of water I made sure to keep drinking.  I also knew to cut myself off after the 8th visit from my children that were meant to be sleeping long before midnight.  What happens to us in those times where we end up spending the ‘day after’ in misery, hating ourselves for the incessant pounding in our heads, the spins, the nausea, the shakes…  Are we just not cognizant of our own limits?  The sheer lack of utterance of the words No Thanks when your friend offers to buy you another at an ungodly hour of the night when you know you should be getting home to bed?  Or is it just plain stupidity?

A few weeks ago we had our office holiday party at a place where you break up into teams and face off against each other in a kitchen cook off – sort of like Chopped or Top Chef.  One of the best part of the night was outstanding service and most importantly, that the wine was an endless pour.  At no point over the course of 5 hours was my glass ever half full(you can tell it’s new years… i’m still in positive mode with the half full instead of half empty comment).  While there was plenty to eat, I didn’t realize quite how much I had drank until I left the building and walked into Penn station, or should I say stumbled.   I made sure to purchase a bottle of water before boarding my train, found a quiet seat in an over illuminated train car and settled in.  It wasn’t long before we were on the go and I began to feel the effects.  The car was moving, not just toward home but in every direction.  I was not happy.  I don’t think I’ve had the spins since my 20’s and at 40, they still SUCK.  I managed to make it home and get into bed without throwing up.  However, while cleaning out my bag today in preparation for heading back to work tomorrow (always nice to start the year with a clean bag), I found an envelope with scribble unlike anything I’ve ever seen before.  It took me some time to realize that I had written this on my way home that night (I guess I was trying to take my mind off of the alcohol induced spins).  Fairly impressed with my rhyming skills while completely inebriated, I felt the need to share:

Being drunk in your 40’s just doesn’t compare
To the times in your life when you just didn’t care
A shot or three once got the night started
My tolerance now seems to have parted.
Once a lover of tequila and gin
Never a dull moment, often verging on sin.
Now a glass or two of wine does me right
I never thought 10pm would be the end of my night.
Still love to dance and get on my groove
But on top of the bar I no longer approve.
Hoping my girls let me get some sleep
I’m feeling like shit and need to count some sheep

I’m almost home and can’t hardly wait
This fucking train ride hasn’t been great.
The squeakiest car I’ve ever heard
The bathroom is close and smells like turd.
A better solution there has got to be
Can’t wait to get home, I really have to pee.

Happy New Year.

WTHayley

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WT Unplugged

2 Mar

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Technology….. It seems like every day there is something new that people are talking about.  Yesterday, it was a new app called VINE.  (Check it out AFTER you read the rest of my blog post).  Vine is a new social media app that gives you :06 of video.  The conversation in my office went like this….

Young Employee: How cool is this new app called Vine but I don’t get it.  What on earth do I need a :06 video clip for.
Me: Well, when I had my first cell phone while most of you were still in diapers, I used to wonder why I would ever text a message as opposed to calling a friend.
Young Emp: Haha.  What did you have, one of those weird flip phones?
Me: Actually, no.  I had one of the first Motorola’s that weighed 15 lbs that you had to walk around with in a large case and single call cost something like $4.99.  And there was only one or two service providers.
Young Emp: That’s cool.  So you’re like an Influencer.
Me: Yeah, I guess you can say that instead of just calling me old.

I remember back in the day sitting in one of those expensive Marketing Seminars that the agency I worked at paid for and the speaker was talking about how one day, we will be watching TV, with a laptop on our laps and a cell phone in our hands and we will be multitasking.  I was thinking at the time, why the hell would anyone need that much technology all in one place.  Flash forward to a week ago while I was watching the Oscars.  I’ve got not only my laptop on my lap doing work and checking out some of the Red Carpet that I missed, but I’ve got my iPad so that I can tweet from my company account and my iPhone so that I can personally tweet.  I can’t imagine what life is going to be like when my kids get a little older.  Will there be no more conversation between people anymore?  Just tweeting and texting and living life as an interactive experience vs. actual physical contact?   Note to self: Future blog about digital dating.  Stay tuned.

I recently heard myself telling someone how well behaved my kids are in restaurants these days because I make sure to bring my iphone, my ipad and my daughters itouch.  I then realized how ridiculous that sounded.  They aren’t well behaved, they are zombies staring at screens.  However, it does keep them quiet and in their seats for most of the meal.  But what happened to the days when families used to gather around the dinner table to share stories about their days and connect with each other?  Have we lost that connection?  Texting or checking emails or tweeting while my kids are around doesn’t set a great example.  In no time, I will be telling them to put their electronics away while at the table so that I can hear about what’s going on in their lives but it should start now.  While placating them with technology while out to dinner certainly keeps me sane as a single mom, it’s setting a terrible example for my kids.   I encourage everyone to disconnect.   Holy Shit – did you know that today is National Unplugged Day?  Oopps.  Starting today, I promise to:
–Make more phone calls and send less texts and emails
–Put it down while my kids are around
–Don’t use technology to avoid live interaction
–Don’t use sexts in place of actual sex (even though it is super fun ;-))

I’m taking a pact to interact.

WTHayley

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