Day 7 of 30 Days of CDs and etc.

I had a ton of holiday shopping to do this weekend.  We will begin again at #7.  Today I listened to: Bernstein, which has Candide Overture, The Age of Anxiety: Symphony No. 2 for piano and orchestra and Fancy Free -  Jeffrey Kahane, piano and the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Andrew Litton, conductor. 

I started listening to this while I was doing some work, but the music was so powerful that I had to stop and give it my full attention for a little while.  If you like Bernstein, like I do, you might consider getting this CD for your collection.


I'm still doing level 1 of 30 Day Shred so no new workouts yet.  Tomorrow I will be adding some new ones in.

I have been watching the new show 2 Broke Girls.  My sister and I actually tested the pilot in Las Vegas.  It's getting quite funny!  If you liked the humor of Sex and the City, you will love this show.  The comedy is sharp and surprising.




-SDF :O)

Day 6 of CD Challenge and etc.

And now for something completely different.  I'm listening to The Crystal Method's Vegas CD.  This is a great background CD for driving, working or working out.  My friends think it is funny I like this group and this type of music.  To me, electronica music is very similar to classical minimalistic music, so it is quite natural for me.

Tomorrow I will choose another classical CD.  There are tons I want to hear again.

Today I did level one of 30 Day Shred.  I'm starting to not feel as winded on this one and will need to start rotating in level 2 soon.  I have been seeing that others add more cardio, which is what I will be doing next week.  I think I will also add back in my yoga/stretching.  It's good to be more flexible in life.  ;O)


That's it for today.  Have a Thriving Thursday!

-SDF :O)

CDs, workouts, and Muppets!

I'm catching up with 2 CDs today.  I listened to Brahms Concerto No.2 and 5 Intermezzi with pianist Van Cliburn, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Fritz Reiner.  He is my absolute favorite pianist.  If you want to get into classical music and like the piano, I suggest getting some of his recordings to listen to, or, listen on Spotify.  They have a few of his tracks there.

Right now I am listening to Ravi Shankar and Philip Glass, Passages.  Fascinating.  This is a CD I have never listened to before. 

I'm loving it.  If you like Indian music and/or new music, this CD is for you.


My workout today was level 2 of 30 Day Shred, and I just about shredded my knee.  I have bad knees to begin with, but I have to say that her warm-up sucks!  It does not get you warmed up (the major joints) before getting into the intense workout, thus my injury.  I have no clue why she didn't carry over some of the moves from warm-up level one. This is the only criticism I have of this workout.  Otherwise, it does what it is supposed to do.  I ended up having to go lower impact, but I was still sweating up a storm by the end.  I will rotate level 1 and level 2 for another week.

Last thoughts for today's blog, why is Fox News going after the Muppets?  I cannot believe that Fox News is picking on this kids' movie saying it is radically brainwashing our kids.  Here is a tongue in cheek commentary on this story:

Muppet movies: their communist plots revealed

Politics (and certain political commentators) are getting crazier by the minute. How dare the Muppets pick on the poor defenseless oil industry.  I'm sorry, but if politics are defending an industry that continues to turn a profit and then asks us to give them tax breaks in return, I don't see them as being "poor" in any way, shape or form. It is poor taste to defend an industry that is buying chunks of our political system.  I also think picking on the Muppets is poor taste, and I hope these crazy political commentators will stop the (er, their) madness.

-SDF :O)

Day 3 of 30 days of CDs and other thoughts

Day 3 of CDs is a gift that I haven't listened to yet.  Bachanalia! Carl Grapentine's favorite instrumental works of J.S. Bach.  Carl Grapentine is an announcer on 98.7 WFMT, Chicago's all classical music station.   This was part of one of their donation drives.  It's a charming compilation from Naxos specifically for WFMT.  You will need to contact the station if you are interested.  It has a bunch of tracks from Brandenburg Concertos, Overture (Suite) No. 4 in D Major, Cello Suite No. 1  in G Major, and more.  Very nice!




I'm on day 4 of 30 Day Shred.  Level 1 is getting easier and easier.  I'll probably be level 2 next week.  Let me know if you are using this workout and what you think.  For someone who likes dance type workouts, this is a little boring.  It is effective though.  I think I'm already seeing some small results.



That's it for today.  Have a terrific Tuesday!

-SDF :O)

Day 2 of 30 days of CDs and other thoughts

Today, I'm listening to Big Blue Ball by Peter Gabriel and friends.  This is a world music project.  I absolutely adore this compilation!  You can buy this CD at:
http://bigblueball.realworldrecords.com/

Tomorrow I think I will break out one of my treasures from my classical music collection.  



For workouts, I did another day of 30 Day Shred.  It still was as challenging as the first day.

I went to two more thrift stores, and I believe I am finished with shopping now!  I am happy to report that all my shopping this year was using F.A.C.E. values.  The thrift stores I shopped at were Humane Society of Boulder Valley, HospiceCare of Boulder and Broomfield Counties, Good Will, and Ares Thrift Store which supports a variety of charities.  I also purchased art from Annette Coleman and Astrid Paustian.  I am spreading the joy of music with CDs from the pickPocket Ensemble. 

So you see, you don't have to go to a big box in order to find thoughtful gifts.  Now onto my card list.

Cheers to music, working out and conscience holiday shopping!

-SDF :O)

Vote with your money this holiday season!

I haven't blogged in a long time.  It's been a crazy month of traveling, work, and other stuff.  I have still been working out and being creative though.

It's December and that means the holidays are right around the corner.  My holiday message to you is to vote with your money this season!  I call this action F.A.C.E. values.  Fair trade, American/Artist made, Charities paid and Environment saved.  It's time to send a message by not shopping at stores that do not value their employees, avoid shopping where they stock the shelves with cheaply made crap that falls apart after a few uses (or is detrimental to our health), and to start looking at the labels to see if the product was made by Americans or Artists.  Instead of lining the pockets of the big corporate tanks, why not spend your money where you know people will be benefiting from it directly.

I am a big advocate of shopping at stores that benefit charities with each purchase or stores that have fair trade goods.  I also recommend gift shopping at nonprofit online stores.  Maybe your loved one doesn't need "stuff," and would be happy with a tree that is planted in a rainforest or adopting an animal.  There are creative gifts out there that help our environment and put a smile on the faces of the people that receive the gifts. 

Also, there are artists out there that have wonderful art, live event experiences, that are more thoughtful a gift than simply a "toy" that will be discarded in the future.  The memory of an arts gift lasts a lifetime.

So there you have it!  F.A.C.E. values this season is about voting with your money.  If you care about our world, and I know you do, being choosy about your gifts this holiday season is a big way to show you care.

On a few other notes, I just finished my first workout of Jillian's 30 Day Shred.  It is a great workout!  20 minutes of an intense, well rounded circuit training .  I do feel like I have worked hard.   I do wish it had more cardio to it, but I can always add more cardio later.  I do recommend this series as a great workout to put into your rotation.

Lastly, I have been thinking about a personal 30 day challenge.  I have decided that since I have so many CD's and music lying around the house, it is time to have a 30 Day CD challenge.  I am going to listen to 1 CD every day and post here for your amusement.

Today I listened to Imogen Heap's Speak for Yourself.   What a great CD! I adore her voice, passionate and musical.  It's also music that makes you want to move.  Tomorrow, I have no idea what I will choose. You will have to wait and see.

So that's it for this one.  Vote with your money.  Workout until you sweat.  Listen to good music.  Every day.

-SDF :O)