Pure Barre: Deceivingly easy, incredibly fun

I like fitness classes. They're fun, keep me entertained, and much better than trudging on the treadmill after thirty minutes, trying not to think about how much I hate running. 

A few months ago I tried kickboxing, which left me exhausted and sore days later. Last summer, I signed my soul over to the devil and took up weekly Saturday morning SoulCycle classes. Both were so much fun for me, and now I'm always eager to try the next best thing (like trampolines!) 

Enter: Pure Barre. The ballet-infused fitness class doesn't focus on cardio and how much you sweat, but rather, micro-movements that engage your entire body and really work to strengthen muscles all over. One of their mantras is 'Lift. Tone. Burn.' for a reason, people! 

Image credit: Pure Barre

I was so happy to see they opened a location in Annapolis, MD - a town that hasn't exactly jumped on the fitness class trends of SoulCycle or FlyWheel - and absolutely loved the studio. The instructor was wonderful with us newbies - about four out of the eight of us in the Friday morning class. I never felt intimated for not knowing exactly how it all worked, and the atmosphere was oddly relaxing, as we were shaking, trying to hold certain poses. 

I had thought I'd get through the class relatively unscathed. I can do a 2-minute plank, have fairly impeccable balance, and consider myself in shape (I've been working out four-six days a week for a year now.) Uh, yeah. Didn't really work like that. A 90-second plank is a lot harder to do when you're constantly correcting your form in the mirror. You have to use your own weight against you, 'tucking' your abs tight and hips under your waist.

Just hanging out or working their abs to the max?

While the class did feel good, there were moments where my legs experienced a new kind of pain. At one point, as we were standing on our tippy-toes, grasping the ballet barre, leaning away from it at at 45 degree angle, I honestly thought my thighs were going to burst into flames. The class is 55 minutes, split between a variety of arms, abs, legs and full-body toning. They use weights, exercise bands, small bouncy balls and yoga mats. And, of course, the ballet barre. 

The moves themselves are nothing new, but as I was holding three pound weights and pulsing them above my head, my shoulders and biceps burning, I just begin to feel better. Like I knew that the pain would be worth it (and I had paid for the lesson, so why not get something substantial out of it.)

I'm home for one more week and I think I'll just got ahead and purchase the 5-class series (saving a whopping ten dollars than if I bought them individually.) Just as SoulCycle promotes finding your inner soul, Pure Barre encourages you to "embrace the shake." 

I'm not exactly feeling the same kind of post-workout exhaustion than if I had run four miles, I think tomorrow I'll wake up and need to immediately begin stretching.

On My Spotify: 'Magazines or Novels,' Jon Batiste and Stay Human, "Bang Bang"

Oh August, you are a gift to the music world. So much good music has been released so far this month, and it's only August 8th. As we head into the final days of summer, there's no reason to let your 'Summer 2014' playlist grow stagnant, riddled with cobwebs. No no, dear reader. Instead, as these tracks to your playlist and you'll keep rocking all the way into fall. 

1) Magazines or Novels - Andy Grammar

Andy Grammar is one of my favorite musicians. He’s right up there with Eric Hutchinson and Jason Mraz in terms of quality, listenability and likability on social media (seriously, the guy’s great.) After memorizing every amazing song off his self-titled album, Andy Grammar, I have eagerly awaited the release of Magazines or Novels. Unsurprisingly, it is such a knock-out of an album. It opens with my favorite track, “Honey I’m Good” with such catchy vocals and melodies. Even slower tracks like “Remind You” are so interestingly composed, using a hint of synthesizer in the chorus, unexpectedly.

Andy Grammer said the album is named thusly to look at the juxtaposition between 'light' reading (magazines) and something more substantial (novels) and I think his album is a delightful mix of both. Honestly I love every song, but there are also those that are very carefully crafted, one's that may have taken more time, and some that may have come easier to him. Sometimes, you need to put down the novel to pick up a magazine.

This is an album I’ll need to have with me at all times for many years to come. The music is transcendental - you can listen to it anywhere and draw different emotions from each song every time - and as I’ve said, I cannot get enough of this man’s vocals.

Listen: Honey I’m Good., Holding Out, Blame it on the Stars

2) “Express Yourself (Say Yes)" - Jon Batiste and Stay Human 

Thank you, Stephen Colbert. Thank you for having these musicians on your show. Thank you for letting them do something out of the ordinary with their performance. Thank you for introducing me to Jon Batiste and Stay Human and their album, Social Music. 

“Express Yourself (Say Yes)” is such an intriguing song to listen to. It’s jazz, but it’s also R&B, it’s not pop but thinking about it now, it’s almost reminiscent of Pharrell’s “Happy" - but, better. Also, I love the intro to this song - people in different languages saying ‘express yourself.’ I like how you don’t really pick up on it until the fourth or fifth listening. Seriously - a lightbulb went off in my head, “oh, that’s what they’re saying!” 

If you do get a chance to listen to Social Music (find the time, people!) be sure to listen to "Express Yourself Outro," as well. It serves as a nice cherry on top of the "Express Yourself" sundae.

To get the full effect of this song, check out their performance on The Colbert Report. It is five minutes very well-spent.

Listen: Express Yourself (Say Yes)

3) “Bang Bang” - Jessie J, Ariana Grande, Nicki Minaj

It’s being hailed as the new “Lady Marmalade” but “Bang Bang” has the potential to be greater. It’s a good song, any way you cut it. It probably won’t win a Grammy, but mixing these three women’s voices together is something special. Breaking it down one by one, the all bring something to the table that, without, would leave the song lacking a spark.

They may preform in different genres (‘genres’ being used very loosely, as you could argue all of them fall under Top 40/pop/hip-hop) but they all have such powerful voices. When they sing, you listen. Ariana Grande is the next Mariah Carey. Nicki Minaj is breaking glass ceilings in the rap world left and right. Jessie J sings complex and layered songs, not just mind-numbing stuff.

Listen: Bang Bang 

September has a lot to live up to.

'You're the Worst' is actually the best

I’m not even going to apologize for the pun in the title. Blame You’re the Worst creator Stephen Falk for titling his show as such, when the actual show itself is not the 'worst' by any means.

I wanted to write this a week ago, but I figured I should watch the third episode to make sure the first two weren’t a fluke. They weren't. You’re the Worst is one of the best new comedies to debut on television in recent memory. 

The show centers around two adults: Jimmy and Gretchen. The former is played by Chris Geere, who’s frequent exasperated expressions are always on the mark. His incredulous yelling, as he is prone to do, is even funnier when heard in his British accent. Gretchen, whom actress Aya Cash embodies with a mix of self- deprecating charm and an absolutely no-holds-barred attitude. 

The two meet in the pilot at Jimmy’s ex-girlfriend wedding and proceed to hook up. Their relationship is purely physical at first, but as the show progresses, there is a certain amount of emotional intimacy that develops, too.

But, seeing as how neither are particularly crazy about the idea of “settling down” they seem perfectly happy to continue on as maybe-dating. It does get to the point where Jimmy is jealous about the idea of someone else sleeping with Gretchen, and Gretchen slowly lets down her walls and can maybe see Jimmy become someone important in her life.

You’re the Worst has yet to falter - again, there’s only been three episodes - but the way it allows these characters to be selfish and insulting, demeaning and most of all, truthful, is ultimately refreshing. It doesn’t bullshit with the viewers. Jimmy will not pretend to like you and engage in small talk. Gretchen tells it like it is, she speaks her mind and isn’t going to back down.

Then there's Edgar, whom actor Desmin Borges describes in his Twitter bio as the "least worst" person on You're the Worst. And he's probably right. A war vet with PTSD, and recovering drug addict without much direction in the world, he lives with (and cooks for) Jimmy, has befriended Gretchen and provides much of the humor on the show. 

(Photo credit: You're the Worst Facebook)

Honestly, his performance in the second episode was so on point, every expression made me laugh out loud. 

Kether Donohue rounds out the main cast as Gretchen's best friend, Lindsay. A woman always trying the latest fad diet (for reasons unknown to me, she looks fantastic, it's a strange character trait, or flaw) and married to a bore of a man. She could be used as Gretchen’s insult punching bag, but she holds her own with an incredibly polished and put-together look, and facial expressions that could make me cower.

All in all, it stands to reason that these people are not actually “the worst” - unless Gretchen starts murdering people and Jimmy begins cooking meth - but for now, they do remain fairly terrible people who tell it like it is. 

Honestly, it is no surprise I love this show. The humor is dark and dry and it is one hell of an entertaining half-hour. It's almost worth it to record all of them just so I could binge the entire season in one weekend. But I am weak, and don't have the will power to wait that long. 

Season 1 is just ten episodes and boy do I hope a season 2 pick-up is on its way.

You’re the Worst airs Thursdays at 10:30 p.m. on the FX Network. Check it out.

On My Bookshelf: Veronica Roth, Lauren Layne and Ed Catmull

I have been doing a lot of reading lately. My preferences usually run the gamut. From YA to NA (explained below), to non-fiction, spending a day roaming a bookstore (or library!) is my definition of heaven. 

This is just the first in a series of 'on my bookshelf' posts I have planned. I'm currently diving head-first into The Maze Runner and the rave reviews were not exaggerated - this ish is engrossing! I'm trying to save Only With You for my vacation next week, but gosh, Lauren Layne makes it hard to put down her books. 

Four, Veronica Roth

I am a big Divergent fan. I wrote the Hypable review for the third and final book in the series, Allegiant and saw the movie the day it opened in theaters. So when Veronica Roth decided to publish short stories through Tobias "Four" Eaton's point of view, I was pretty thrilled. He was such a well-written, complex character in the books, that getting a peek behind the curtain (into his mind) was what helped make this such an enjoyable read. There are four stories total - three pre-Divergent and then one during the first book. Each story is about 70 pages long, making it very easy to digest one story in one sitting.

Roth initially wanted to write Divergent from his point of view, but the entire story didn't work, and I can see that through these vignettes. While Four's voice is certainly gripping for the majority of the read, he falters when touching certain areas of the world we need to know more about. Where Tris really comes into her own in Dauntless, Four takes quite a long time to develop his friendships. It is nice to meet him in Divergent as he is. Bold. Strong. Intimidating. Nevertheless, Four is quite a satisfying follow-up.

Only With You, Lauren Layne

I know it sounds crazy, but as a 20-something to doesn't want to hear about the drama of high school relationships, nor deal with the mid-life struggles of divorce and all that, I've been a bit lost trying to find something to read. I want stories about young women my age (college, recently graduated) and about figuring life out after we're handed our diploma. Or, as we get to be a few years out from college: figuring out where we're going in life.

I love 'evolution of a writer's space'!

Enter: the New Adult genre. Typically, the story centers around a female protagonist, great girlfriends, and a quest to figure out her career and/or navigate the murky waters that is dating in your 20s. She also usually is based in New York City - a cramped apartment where she marvels at Jimmy Choos in the window on fifth avenue and dreams of having actual walls in her apartment instead of hanging curtains to create the illusion 300 square feet is a livable space of a shoebox. (That last bit might have just been a diversion into my own fantasies.)

Only With You debuted this week and will be the fifth book I've read from Lauren Layne. She is, along with Cora Carmack, my favorite New Adult (or contemporary) author. Her heroines in her Stiletto series are all equally engrossing, strong and fantastic in their own rights. Their stories might focus around getting the guy (or thinking you don't want him, then realizing you do, then fighting to get him back), and their men may be swoon worthy, but the books prove that being in a relationship with men is not the end-all-be-all in life. You need your girls, too.

Creativity Inc., Ed Catmull

Pixar is one of the most innovative companies in the last 30 years, there is absolutely no denying. Toy Story, in addition to being a cultural touchstone movie for many 90's kids, was the first entirely computer-generated animated film. Ed Catmull helped found and oversee the exponential growth of this computer/animation/movie production company.

You can't pigeonhole Pixar into one industry because, at Catmull aptly explains, the technology behind the animation is what help tells the story. Wanting to tell better stories leads to developing new technology.

If you just want to read the bits that directly refer to Pixar movies, I'll complied them into an article over on Hypable. But if you're interested in the movie-making industry over the past twenty or so years, or if you want to learn how Catmull managed his growing team of a handful of developers and storytellers, into hundreds of movers and shakers, I really suggest you pick up the book.

All of the books above are available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble. 

Recap: NerdHQ A Conversation with Badass Women Mystery Guests!

Zachary Levi’s NerdHQ panels are usually pretty big highlights of SDCC. They’re streamed live online, allowing many more fans to tune in and watch for themselves, rather than rely on the tweets and blurry photos of the panels in Hall H or Ballroom 20. This year proved to set the new standard for SDCC’s going forward with the panel, “A Conversation with Badass Women Mystery Guests!”

Who were these mystery guests? Yvonne Strahovski (Chuck, 24), Retta (Parks and Recreation), Missy Peregrym (Rookie Blue, Heroes), Jennifer Morrison (Once Upon a Time, House), Ming-Na Wen (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D, ER), and Sophie Turner (Game of Thrones).

So yeah, it was a pretty freaking kick-ass panel. I tuned in 20 minutes late (as I was foolishly, furiously, reading the Marvel live blogs, learning nothing as I was missing this) but I watched the last 40 minutes of it live then went back and watched the beginning. That’s the beauty of YouTube live-streams, they’re automatically ready for playback the moment they end. I’ve embedded it below, it really is worth a watch.

They talked about the tropes they don’t like (for Yvonne, it’s the gratuitous shots of women in their underwear when the scene gains nothing from it), to women who inspire them. Across the board, they said their mom, or someone in their family.

Jennifer Morrison also mentioned How I Met Your Mother director and executive producer, Pam Fryman. For fans of the show, you’ll remember Jennifer Morrison’s guest role during season 6 as Zoey Pierson, Ted’s nemesis and eventual girlfriend, for twelve episodes. 

I think it really speaks to Pam as a leader and strong female in this industry that she was so influential on Morrison. At that point, she had already been on House and went right into Once Upon a Time after her HIMYM appearances, but she saw something in Pam she didn't see while working on other productions (that she mentioned whilst on the panel.)

All of these women were so well-spoken about the industry and the world that they have grown up in (even Sophie Turner, who is only 17!) I think there is finally - sadly finally - a shift in the industry where women are seen as equals to men. They're no longer sex symbols or housewives. They're fleshed out, real human beings who mirror real-world women. Imagine that! 

However, I did read on Tumblr that all these shows these women are currently on, are run by men. Despite the fact that Joss Whedon, Mike Schur, Eddy Kitsis and Adam Horowitz etc. can write strong three-dimensional female characters, there is still such a boys club when it comes to the behind-the-scenes worlds in film and television.

In 2013, according to the 16th annual Celluloid Ceiling report, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter, only 10% of Hollywood writers in 2013 were women. Maybe that percentage is a little better in television (where I'd like to be) but that statistic is still abysmal. 

Thankfully, there are women like Mindy Kaling, Tina Fey, Linda Yaccarino, and Shonda Rhimes who are fantastic at what they do, whether its writing, producing, acting, leading, advertising or managing. These are the women I look up to as I aspire to work in this industry (or adjacent to it - I’ve got many women I admire at Vulture, BuzzFeed, the A.V. Club and the like).

There is a point to all of this somewhere. Maybe it’s just that I am so thrilled to see more attention rightly being called to these badass women in the industry and I hope to see this panel again next year (maybe I’ll be in the audience?!)

FOMO, SDCC and You

Working for an online entertainment website is wonderful. I get to talk about television with people who are cut from the same cloth, make friends from all of the world, and my pop culture knowledge is off the charts. It's especially nice at Hypable because we're given a lot of creative freedom to write what we like. We are a site that is "for fans, by fans," after all, so anything that we are passionate about, we're encouraged to write about.

But...

All that being said, there is also one major downfall to being in this entertainment world: San Diego Comic-Con. Specifically, my lack of attendance at the convention.

(Photo credit: Andrew Sims)

At this point, there's something for everyone at Comic-Con. Yes, at its core, there are still panels and sections of the vendor hall dedicated to comic books, video games and everything that comes with those universes, but there are television shows like The Blacklist and Once Upon a Time and television/online hybrid Community. There are panels for movies such as the Marvel franchise and Disney ventures. The glitz and glamour of fancy Hollywood parties have creeped into SDCC's evening plans over the years (disclaimer: I have no idea if this is a new thing or not. Has social media simply made the partying more evident?)

Zachary Levi, one of my favorite actors in recent memory, sits at the helm of Nerd Machine's Nerd HQ where there are daily "Conversations" with various celebrities. This year's schedule has Jensen Ackles And Jared Padalecki, Felicia Day, Joss Whedon and Yvonne Strahovski. Thankfully, these are sometimes live-streamed. If not, you can definitely find write-ups of them online the next day.

Suffice to say, pretty much a solid 70% of the pop culture I love has a presence at SDCC. Therefore (ergo?) it's a safe bet that many other people on the Hypable staff like it too. There are probably about 10 people representing the site in San Diego right now. As press, they're granted access to certain interviews and red carpet events, and as convention goers, they'll attend panels that I'd kill to attend (such as the aforementioned Once Upon A Time).

So naturally, I am jealous. As enviously green as the wicked witch. The FOMO has morphed into a I-Know-I'm-Missing-Out feeling, and I just have to accept that. Thankfully, I am not the only one on the Hypable staff who couldn't attend and are suffering from behind their computer screens like I am. Misery loves company, so we have bonded together online in the wake of our friends bonding IRL at speakeasy bars and hotel rooms.

This is the third year I've actively wanted to attend SDCC so it's no surprise that it didn't work out. Real-life work always gets in the way and unless I'm unemployed next year (or score an awesome job that actually allows me to go representing them in some capacity), I don't think that'll change any time soon.

In the meantime, I leave you with a recommendation to read an amazing article about how to cope with not being at SDCC by my friend Danielle and the image I was tagged in on Facebook this morning: 

On my: Spotify (and some updates)

I am trying something totally new here - shocker. I came up with a better way to organize my recommendations, and work on my graphic design at the same time. Thus, "on my" series begun. These will be about once a week and will range from Spotify, to Bookshelf, to Plate. When it comes to clothes and fashion though, (and because I'm a stickler for continuity and 'In my' closet wouldn't work) I'll still do Currently Coveting. 

Anyways. There has been a lot of good music circulating around town lately and I fell it's my duty to spread the songs I've been loving.

1) Song: All About that Bass, By: Meghan Trainor

I have been jamming to this song for the past two weeks and see no reason to slow down anytime soon. Her body-positive message and hypnotic beat is a much more preferable song of the summer for me than say, oh, something like "Fancy."

Looking now, I added this song to my Spotify merely 12 days ago (as well as followed Meghan on Twitter) and it had been really exciting for me, just sitting on the sidelines, to see this song become more and more popular. It truly is a wonderful track and this totally deserves all of the praise it has been receiving.

The song has been slowly climbing the Billboard charts and now has over 3 million views on YouTube. I watched it when it had 1.3 million. Less than two weeks ago. The pastel color palette the video has is such a nice contrast to some other videos that are out there right now. 

I'm totally rooting for this song - and Meghan - for the rest of the summer and beyond. She's already been on the Today show and more radio stations are playing "All About that Bass" daily. It's hard not to pick up on her cheerful, amazing attitude and outlook on life. 

2) Album: YES!, By: Jason Mraz

My adoration for Jason Mraz has spanned many moons - well, many albums. With his latest, Yes!, which debuted this week, he is back in top form. After teaming up with the women of Raining Jane, I can say that they're participation in this largely acoustic album simply elevates his lyrics and musical talents to a new level.

After 2012's Love is a Four Letter Word effort, I have to say, I wasn't crazy about the majority of the songs. They diverted from his traditional way of laid-back acoustics and soulful lyrics. They were a bit more experimental and harder to digest, if that makes sense.

Not so with YES! Every song really is enjoyable and this reaffirms the fact that Mr. A-Z is one of my favorite artists. He has been for a very long time - way back, before Spotify and I was burning "The Remedy (I Won't Worry)" on CD's to share his music, and the love for it, with friends. 

#spreadYES, everyone.

Songs to check out: Hello You Beautiful Thing, Everywhere, You Can Rely on Me, Shine

3) Album: The Good Wife Score, By: David Buckley

Do you watch The Good Wife? You should. I don't care who has told you otherwise, The Good Wife is meant to be enjoyed by all who appreciate it. The score is perfect to listen to during work. It not only serves as background music in the show, it supports the scenes and with the string and wind instruments and elevates the episodes to new levels of greatness. 

Songs to check out: The Good Wife (Theme), Alicia Keeps Her Cool, J'Accuse