This song by India Arie was originally released 2000. The lyrics of the song contain a powerful message that all girls should pay attention to. We should to love ourselves as we are, and not try to cover ourselves up in fancy or expensive clothes or loads of makeup to make us feel good. When we learn to be comfortable with ourselves, including our imperfections, that is when we can start to appreciate ourselves, and this shows through to other people. Beauty is only skin deep!

 LYRICS TO “VIDEO”

Sometimes I shave my legs and sometimes I don’t
Sometimes I comb my hair and sometimes I won’t
Depend on how the wind blows I might even paint my toes
It really just depends on whatever feels good in my soul

I’m not the average girl from your video
and I ain’t built like a supermodel
But, I learned to love myself unconditionally
Because I am a queen
I’m not the average girl from your video
My worth is not determined by the price of my clothes
No matter what I’m wearing I will always be the india arie

When I look in the mirror and the only one there is me
Every freckle on my face is where it’s supposed to be
And I know our creator didn’t make no mistakes on me
My feet, my thighs, my lips, my eyes; I’m lovin’ what I see

I’m not the average girl from your video
and I ain’t built like a supermodel
But, I learned to love myself unconditionally
Because I am a queen
I’m not the average girl from your video
My worth is not determined by the price of my clothes
No matter what I’m wearing I will always be  india arie

Am I less of a lady if I don’t wear pantyhose?
My mama said a lady ain’t what she wears but, what she knows
But, I’ve drawn a conclusion, it’s all an illusion, confusion’s the name of the
game
A misconception, a vast deception
Something’s gotta change
but,Don’t be offended this is all my opinion
ain’t nothing that I’m sayin law
This is a true confession of a life learned lesson I was sent here to share with
y’all
So get in where you fit in go on and shine
Clear your mind, now’s the time
Put your salt on the shelf
Go on and love yourself
‘Cuz everything’s gonna be all right

I’m not the average girl from your video
and I ain’t built like a supermodel
But, I Learned to love myself unconditionally
Because I am a queen
I’m not the average girl from your video
My worth is not determined by the price of my clothes
No matter what I’m wearing I will always be the india arie

Keep your fancy drinks and your expensive minks
I don’t need that to have a good time
Keep your expensive car and your caviar
All I need is my guitar
Keep your Kristal and your pistol
I’d rather have a pretty piece of crystal
Don’t need your silicone I prefer my own
What God gave me is just fine

I’m not the average girl from your video
and I ain’t built like a supermodel
But, I learned to love myself unconditionally
Because I am a queen
I’m not the average girl from your video
My worth is not determined by the price of my clothes
No matter what I’m wearing I will always be india arie

McDonalds. Pizza Hut. Dairy Queen. Wendy’s. Quiznos subs. Tim Hortons.

Is your mouth watering yet?

Fast Food restaurants offer some tasty choices and old time favourites. And we KNOW it’s unhealthy, yet we continue to indulge. Not all fast food is bad, but as with everything, the key is moderation and sensible choices. It doesn’t mean you can only pick from the “light favourites” menu (I for one am against paying $7 for a bowl of lettuce) but rather be aware of what you are eating. Here are some tips on making healthy decisions.

 1) Don’t get that Coke!

Sodas are bad news. They rot your teeth, contain no nutrients, and can actually leave you more thirsty! When ordering your drink, opt for juice, the diet soda or even better, water!

2) 39 cents to Supersize is not worth it

Supersizing might seem like a great deal (value for your money) but it packs on more calories. Most regular combo meals are sufficently filling. If you want to supersize, share with a friend!

3) Nutritional Information

Most fast food places offer mini booklets of the nutritional information of their foods. They are often lying around the counter – if you don’t see one, ask for one! Another great resource is the websites for the restaurant. Most, if not all, of the restaurants offer an interactive Nutrition calculator. You choose your customized meal and the website calculates the nutritional information for you! Let’s analyze some classic fast food meals….

McDonald’s: Big Mac, Medium Fries and Coke = 1,100 calories. 46g fat.

Pizza Hut: 6″ Personal Size Pepperoni Pizza = 650 calories. 26g fat.

Subway: 6″ Chicken and Bacon Ranch Sub = 560 calories. 30 g fat.

Dairy Queen: Small Oreo Blizzard = 600 calories. 20 g fat.

4) No I don’t want fries with that.

Some places offer you a choice of sides, not just fries. Baked potatoes, soups, side salads = healthier options!

5) Hold the Sauce

Sauces, especially creamy ones, contain loads of calories! These sauces are used heavily when only a small amount is actually required for the taste (this includes salad dressings!!!). Try to have your sauce on the side and pour it on yourself.

The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is the new scary sexually transmitted disease on the block. Officially it’s “a very common virus transmitted through sexual activity. HPV has been found to cause cervical cancer, some other rare cancers and genital warts. (About 70 per cent of adults will have at least one HPV infection in their lifetime.)”  - That last statistic is pretty scary! So scary that the Ontario government is now implementing a program that provides grade eight girls with a vaccine to help protect girls from cervical cancer. The vaccine is not a treatment or cure for cervical cancer or genital warts, but it does prevent infection by these specific types of HPV if it is administered to girls and women before their first sexual encounter.

Take this juicy tidbit: “The HPV vaccine is close to 100 per cent effective in protecting against four types of high-risk HPV strains, two of which are responsible for about 70 per cent of cervical cancers. The other two are responsible for about 90 per cent of genital warts. The vaccine is most effective if given before exposure to the virus.”

An important thing that schools are forgetting to mention is that if you get the vaccine, that doesn’t make you invincible. An HPV vaccine does not eliminate the need for protected sex or prudence about one’s choice and frequency of sexual partners. Barrier methods of protection (such as condoms) are still necessary to prevent HIV/AIDS and other types of infection not prevented by the HPV vaccine. Also, getting a regular Pap screening for cervical abnormalities has greatly reduced the incidence of cervical cancer in Canada. Cervical cancer is considered to be 90% preventable with screening and treatment! So… does that mean I don’t have to have the needle?

I hate needles. I always have. And I’ll do everything in my power to not have a shot. But in this case, I would consider letting my guard down. The best thing to do is talk with your parents/guardians and your doctor before you make a decision.

What do you think? Will you be getting the shot?

All quotes are taken from the Ontario HPV Vaccination Program website

http://www.hpvontario.com

FOR MORE INFORMATION CHECK OUT:

HPV Fact Sheet

http://www.york.ca/NR/rdonlyres/codcs6hktimm4w7lbpumykz7jmog2llrv55u2d3i32y3xtgx4esnxk7oyrfole7zdntvuiyfxbzaxjcea3fiu5kmxh/Gardasil+Fact+Sheet.pdf

Your Local Public Health Unit:

http://www.health.gov.on.ca/phuloc_mn.html

Health Canada: Human Papillomavirus (HPV)

http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/iyh-vsv/diseases-maladies/hpv-vph_e.html

Public Health Canada: Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Prevention and HPV
Vaccine: Questions and Answers

http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/std-mts/hpv-vph/hpv-vph-vaccine_e.html

Cancer Care Ontario: Cervical Screening

http://www.cancercare.on.ca/index_cervicalScreening.htm

The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC)

http://www.sogc.org/media/guidelines-hpv-commentary_e.asp

The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC)

http://hpvinfo.ca/hpvinfo.html 

Canadian Cancer Society

http://www.cancer.ca/ccs/internet/standard/0,3182,3649_1242735771__langld-en,00.html 

Most people don’t associate physical activity with video games. In fact, video games are sometimes viewed as the definition of physical inactivity. Images of youths spending hour upon hour glued to their computers or t.v. too busy playing to even come down to the dinner table (let alone go outside for a game of pick up basketball) are conjured up when you think of games.

That was then. This is now.

The evolution of next generation consoles now offers gamers a chance to get off their behinds but continue playing. Let’s take a look at two of the hottest new titles available (bonus: doesn’t feel like exercise)

1. Dance Dance Revolution

Starting out as a popular arcade game, Dance Dance Revolution (DDR) is now available @ home on Playstation 2 and 3, Xbox 360 and the Nintendo Wii. This game will make you SWEAT as you move to cool dance tracks! The main objective of the game is to hit the dance squares on a mat/pad (that is plugged into the console) @ the right time, as indicated by arrows on the screen. You can groove by yourself, or with a friend!! No guarantee that this will make you a better dancer at that party though Oh, and there is a special “workout” mode too that counts calories!

2. Wii Sports

Wii Sports is the title game that comes free when you buy a Nintendo Wii — it’s main purpose is to show how COOL the Wii is and how active you can be. The sports available to play in this game are: baseball, boxing, tennis, golf and bowling. Oh and there are also “training” programs to make you better at the game. This game is addictive and you definitely can feel the burn in your arms the day afterwards. While it’s arguably not as “active” as participating in the real sport (there is less running) the level of activity is still pretty high — especially in boxing. You also have the opportunity to create a “Mii”, an avatar that you can customize to look however you want, and use it in the game!

OK.. i know you thought both of those games are pretty cool. But before you go out and buy a $300 system, let’s get some perspective. Video gaming is quite an expensive hobby. The consoles are expensive, and games can sell for about $50-80 dollars a pop! Also, while these are awesome games that are revolutionizing the industry, playing baseball in Wii sports will never be able to replace real baseball – your teammates, the atmosphere, the actual running, etc. It’s still pretty cool though..

This is a great relaxing meditation video from youtube – a great 10 minute refresher for those hectic days!

Great scenes, calming music, gentle voice.

Prepare to be totally relaxed!

Sports equipment can be very expensive, but that shouldn’t be a deterrent for participating in the sports you love. There are a number of ways to find good quality equipment without spending a bundle.

1. Trade Shows

Many sports hold annual trade shows (e.g. the Toronto Ski, Snowboard and Travel Show) right before the start of the season. These are great opportunities to pick up awesome equipment for criminally-low prices, as long as you don’t mind wearing “last season’s” styles. These shows usually charge between $10-15 admission, but the savings are worth it. As an added bonus, trade shows are a great place to find local retailers as well as cheap getaway destinations.

2. Second-Hand Shops

You can find amazing lightly-used equipment in stores like “Play It Again Sports” or even on eBay. We often outgrow equipment before we get our full use of it, and if we lack younger siblings, parents sell this equipment (cause yeah, it’s expensive).

3. End of or Off Season

Retailers offer deep discounts on equipment near a season’s end — I once picked up a set of golf clubs from an end-of-season pro shop sale for $150. Original Price = $470! Same goes for equipment in the off season, mind you it might be a bit difficult to find a place that sells rollerblades in January.

Evolution of Beauty and its parody, Slob Evolution.

Jokes aside, the commercial and it’s parody brings up some important points. Dove’s campaign for “real beauty” shows how models don’t roll out of bed looking beautiful. It takes a long time to make that end poster, and the commercial shows how unrealistic that “beauty” is. It’s pretty much unnatural and created by computers – therefore, we shouldn’t feel bad about ourselves if we don’t “look that way”.

However, since that commercial is created by Dove, a corporation whose purpose is to make profit, we have to wonder, is this just a way to sell their bars of soap?? What are their real intentions?

At least the parody is hilarious

after watching this video, i realize i need to carry around an accurate digital scale… and read food nutrition labels with a critical mind. check it out!

Hi!!! So I was on the Oprah website and I saw Dr. Oz (I looooove Dr. Oz!!!) and this is what he had to say about the five foods to avoid.

Take a peak!!!!

The first ingredient to avoid is hydrogenated oil, which often masquerades as partially hydrogenated oil. Dr. Roizen says we should also eliminate sugar and high fructose corn syrup from our foods. “We eat 63 pounds of [high fructose corn syrup] a year, which puts 33 pounds on the typical American,” he says.

Enriched flour is the fourth ingredient to avoid. “[Enriched] means they took all the good stuff out and put a little back,” Dr. Roizen says. In 1960, Americans didn’t use enriched flour, but today we consume 63 pounds a year, he says.

The fifth offenders are white foods—including bleached flour. The only white items you should have in your fridge are egg whites, cauliflower and fish, Dr. Roizen says.

Your favorite snack foods won’t advertise their artificial ingredients—Oprah’s medical experts say you have to read the small print for yourself!

This mean for S & F today we are going to clean out our fridges and get rid of all these “bad” foods….and say bye bye to rice, potatoes, chips, pasta….and OHHHHHH MAN….I guess anything that we looove. Just keep in mind that ofcourse we will never be able to really cut out anything- but instead we are going to try eating things in moderation.

Wish us luck!!!

F&S

http://www.oprah.com/health/yourbody/slide/20061102/yourbody_20061102_350_202.jhtml

Although many questions come to mind when watching “The Star Wars Kid” (e.g. does he have any friends left?), what we want to know is if this can be considered exercise? So we’re turning to you for anwers, master jedi.