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Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Mike Birbiglia

Mike Birbiglia is absolutely hilarious. He's a stand-up comedian and he crushes it. He's so great because I can relate to his stories he shares. I thought I might share some of his stories that I can relate to.


(I love you mom and dad)


I could easily spend 4 hours on the internet without realizing it.


Have you ever said something super awkward that you wish you hadn't? I have.


I seriously do this every time I see a cop.

Here's a clip of some of his stand-up. If you haven't watched his stand-up on Netflix you need to!


Monday, December 8, 2014

Supernatural...Naturally, it's Super...

So, basically, Supernatural is my favorite show of all time.  For those of you who (have lived in a small, sad hole your entire life) don't know what Supernatural is, let me explain.  Two brothers, Sam and Dean, hunt monsters.  In fact, the most common quote from the show is "Saving people. Hunting things.  The Family Business".  They come from a family of Hunters, or people who hunt and kill all supernatural beings such as monsters, ghosts, etc.  The storyline is a constant cycle each season of them saving the world, all of which began when a demon killed their mother when they were very young.  Now the unique thing about this show is that I can find myself terrified beyond belief, laughing hysterically or dangerously emotional all in the same episode.  Oddly, the most common emotion is laughter, which is strange when you consider that this is mostly dealing with fear.  Like most shows, the first season was a little slow at times, but as the show and storyline evolved, there was little else that I wanted to do after I got home from work or school besides watch the next episode.

Unfortunately, as with most things that consume your life (a.k.a. addictions), I began to inherently pick up characteristics from the actual characters in the show.  Mostly, these characteristics came from Dean, the funnier, more erratic and less intelligent of the two brothers.

Here are some examples:


My wife thinks I am constantly full of myself, and even though that may appear as the truth, here is how it really goes down.  It will start off, for example, by me telling some joke that I (and only I) think is extremely funny.  Then, after I've laughed considerably longer than anyone else at my own joke, I will look up to realize that Kaitlin isn't laughing, and make myself feel better by saying, "Well I think I'm hilarious.."  Thinking that I'm adorable has also fallen into this category.


I also find myself constantly using my own versions of the weirdest "lingo" as common comments and insults.  It all started back when Anchorman first came out with things like "Great Odin's Raven!", but has recently evolved ten-fold with my addiction to Supernatural.  Just yesterday I literally said about a short women I was helping on campus, "Dang! Didn't think Mr. Frodo would ever let go of the ring!"

Now, don't get me wrong by this meme.  I am extremely excited for the day that Kaitlin and I deem it family-expansion time, but when it comes to the world of babies, I'm quite the noob.  Just like in the meme above, I had a crash course after marrying into the Leatham family, since in my first year as an in-law, all of Kaitlin's siblings had babies.  Even with the leaps and bounds I've improved, however, I still have tons to learn, and am still convinced this is very much what it will be like for me in the beginning.

Now, call me disgusting if you will, but I never really developed table manners, and more specifically, chewing with my mouth closed.  I find them a waste of time, and since I don't really care what people think about me, why change?

and maybe just one more...

Now, kind of a darker one.  As comes with most thriller/action type shows, I often get the impression that some of the show's scenarios are happening to me, or that they potentially could happen to me.  As a result, I've gotten a lot more paranoid.  Even in a rural place like Cedar City, I now make sure every door in our house is locked before going to sleep, and keep nearly all of my weapons (which really aren't many, I swear) nearby in case I wake up and need them instantly.  Strange, I know...

And lastly, a little peppier than the last one, this little gif-of-beauty here perfectly portrays a bored Dallon.  I inherited serious ADD from my father, and it mostly likes to present itself this way.  If I've been sitting somewhere, especially in silence, for too long, I start making seriously strange noises with my mouth.  This happens more than I'd like to admit while driving, and believe me, I'm sure it sounds just about as annoying as it looks... Just ask Kaitlin.

Now, I would honestly recommend this show to anyone.  Sure, just like any show there are occasional "dud" episodes that just don't do it for me, and the first season was a little rough, but if you give it a chance, I promise you'll love it just as much as I do.

Seriously, though...

Give it a chance...

Ever so sincerely,
Dallon Swanson

Sunday, December 7, 2014

Favorite Holiday Episodes

I love the holiday season! Thanksgiving and Christmas are the best. They combine my very favorite things, food and gifts. I'm just kidding... kind of. Anyways, I thought I would let you know what my favorite holiday episodes to watch on Netflix are.

All of the How I Met Your Mother Slapsgiving episodes.


All of the New Girl Thanksgiving episodes. They are awkwardly wonderful.


Every. Single. Office Christmas Episode... I mean seriously watch these clips. They are hilarious!




A Very Glee Christmas- I love the christmas music from Glee, but this episode is especially wonderful. I love that they incorporate How the Grinch Stole Christmas.


Grey's Anatomy- Grandma Got Ran Over by a Reindeer because, well, I love Grey's Anatomy.


Lastly, The Wonder Years Christmas Episode. This show is close to my heart. We watched this show as a family, and every time I watch it I think of my family. 


What are your favorite holiday episodes? Let me know. I'd love to expand my holiday watch list. 








Sunday, November 23, 2014

Grey's Anatomy- Final's Week

Finals week is rapidly approaching and I am NOT excited about it. I mean honestly who is excited for final's week. I am, however, super excited for Christmas break. While I was diligently procrastinating studying I decided to watch Grey's Anatomy. There's an episode where the intern doctor's begin studying for the Board's. I couldn't help but relate to the episode on some level. Here's a clip...
  
After I watched this episode I realized that there are so many quotes from Grey's Anatomy that could apply to Finals week. Hopefully you fellow college students can receive some humor from this post!
This one is seriously my life right now. I am trying desperately to get through a day at a time.
If you aren't scared about finals week then I might hate you a little bit. 
Anyone else want to punch the people in class who act like they don't have a care in the world?
60% of the time I have no clue what I'm doing.
Sleep doesn't exist in my life right now because I can't stop freaking out.
I mean... I'm starting to feel like a crazy person. It probably has something to do with the lack of sleep.

So, for all of you fellow college students who are also approaching finals week, I wish you good luck.

Thursday, November 20, 2014

Buzzfeed- 11 Suggestions We Wish Netflix Would Make

Buzzfeed released an article today about 11 suggestions they wish Netflix would make. I found them super entertaining. A huge thank-you to Sierra Bonner for inspiring this post. Here is the actual article if you wish to view it.

This article made me laugh so hard! I'm sure the rest of you Netflix lovers can relate as well. 

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

My Go To Netflix Shows



Netflix has become a huge part of people's lives. It has definitely made being lazy much easier for myself. I LOVE Netflix. The only downside that could possibly be argued, is that there is an overwhelming amount on Netflix. I constantly find myself trying to figure out what I'm going to watch next. I thought I would make life a little easier for you guys and post my go to shows that I love. Also I am very well aware that half of these shows are teen dramas but I don't care... They are very addicting!

Grey's Anatomy

Gilmore Girls

How I Met Your Mother

The Office

That 70's Show

Vampire Diaries

Reign

Criminal Minds

Supernatural

Once Upon a Time

One Tree Hill

Gossip Girl

Parks and Recreation

I'm always looking for new shows to watch. What are your favorite shows on Netflix? I would love to have some fun new shows to watch!


Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Fondue Friday


My friends and I have began doing Fondue Friday. Which as I'm sure you can figure out is us eating fondue on a Friday. It is so awesome! I love fondue. Probably because I LOVE cheese and chocolate covered strawberries. While fondueing (yes I made that a verb) I couldn't help but think about this lovely clip from Glee.

Tuesday, November 11, 2014

The Office- Jim and Pam

Rachel Abramson was kind enough to share her story with me. I loved reading about how her relationship is like Jim and Pam's. I hope you all will enjoy as well. Her blog is a super inspirational blog about body image and learning to love the human beneath your skin. I strongly encourage everyone to head on over to her blog.

Hello!  My name is Rachel Abramson, and I am the author over at hidingfromthemirror.wordpress.com.  Today, I am guest-blogging about the TV show The Office.  My life in Netflix is Jim and Pam from the Office and their relationship.

I've been dating Nate Fergason for just over a year now.  But we weren't always together.  Just like Pam, when Nate and I first met, I was engaged to someone else.  And from the day we met, we really hit it off, and joked around constantly, just like Jim and Pam.

Jim And Pam Shipping animated GIF

During that time, Nate fell in love with me, but never told me.  When the day came that my fiance had decided to break off our engagement, Nate was there for me, even when all I wanted to do was scream and cry.  Like...seriously, who breaks off an engagement less than 60 days before your wedding??

Conflict Resolution Paaaammy Ily animated GIF

Anyways...the summer ended, and I hired Nate to do some art for me.  We met at the mall, walked around and talked and talked and in the end, it was a really great day.  We worked well together!  Just like Jim and Pam.

Jim And Pam Love animated GIF

About a month later, Nate came up to Cedar City, and we decided we would hang out again.  He came to my house, and we talked until 3 in the morning.  At the end of that night, he told me he loved me, and that was probably the weirdest moment of my life.

Jim And Pam The Office animated GIF

Well, after that, it was weird, and he left and was gone for a long time, like when Jim went up to New York to work.  But every so often, I'd hear from Nate, just like the faxes Jim would send back to the office.

Time went by, and a little later on, Nate came back to Cedar and without hesitation, asked me on a date.  It was totally unexpected!

are you free for dinner tonight gif

Since then, we've been a strong couple!  We make a really good team.  We laugh together and cry together, and support each other in everything.

Jim And Pam Jim Halpert animated GIF

And if it's up to me, we will DEFINITELY end up like Jim and Pam one day.

Jenna Fischer Jim And Pam animated GIF

Baby Jim animated GIF

Top Ten Reasons I Love Netflix


  1. It doesn't require me to go out in public
  2. I don't have to switch out discs when I'm ready to watch something else
  3. It only costs $8.99 a month
  4. I don't need to get dressed
  5. I don't have to wait an entire week to watch the next episode of a show
  6. No commercials
  7. It's great company when I'm ill
  8. It allows me to zone out and become zombie-like
  9. It has something for me to watch no matter what mood I'm in
  10. I can binge watch with only slight judgment from Netflix.

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Am I Pretty Yet?

Eating disorders are a serious issue within our society. People are constantly trying to fit a certain image that has been publicized to them. I have never personally struggled with having an eating disorder, but I do understand what it feels like to have serious self-esteem issues.   

I feel that eating disorders can be an issue for everyone; female, male, young or old. In this post, however, I will focus on teen girls that have eating disorders. 

One thing I have learned from my 22 years here on this earth is that people are mean and girls in high school are a special breed of mean.

Glee has a character named Marley that I feel perfectly captivates what it feels like to be a teenage girl. 


When I was a teenager I had serious issues with my appearance. I didn't think I was nearly as pretty as the friends I had. They never did anything to make me feel this way, but for some internal reason I still had self-esteem issues. 

I felt as though my hair never looked quite like all of the other girls and I either had too much make-up on or not enough. I would look at the other girls around me and think, "Why can't I look like them?" I felt like I never measured up to those around me. 

I was obsessed with being liked and felt like the only way I could ever be happy is if I was "popular." Thank goodness for my mother. She gave me some great advice when she saw that I was struggling. She told me that being popular is just a mind game and that was a hard pill for me to swallow. I didn't necessarily think this would work but by some miracle my self-esteem began escalating. 

Do I think it is important to be popular? The answer is no. I do not think it is important at all anymore. I drove myself crazy the first few years of high school trying to fit the status quo and eventually realized that the most important thing for me to do was to accept myself for who I was. It was then that I began to have respect for myself, and other's began to as well. 

I did my very best to be kind to other's and help them to know they were awesome for just simply being themselves. I ended up being Prom Queen my Senior year of high school. I felt so honored and to this day I still hope the reasoning for this could have been due to the change I made my Junior year of high school.


I am now married to a wonderful man who tells me I'm beautiful everyday and to this day I still struggle with self-esteem issues every once in a while. It may not ever go away but I try my best everyday to respect myself enough to appreciate my worth.

My message to those who are struggling with eating disorders or self-esteem issues is to try your very best to see that you are worth so much. Being a teen is hard but being an adult is hard as well. Try your best to respect yourself and do your best to respect others. 

My message to those who don't struggle with either of these issues is to remember that even those who appear to have it together could have an internal struggle. Try to be nice to those around you because you never know what they could be going through.  

I wrote this post as a guest for Rachel Abramson's blog and I hope you all will take a look to have a better understanding of this issue. She has great insight on the subject. 

Friends is Coming

Image pulled from Buzzfeed

All ten seasons of Friends will be streaming on Netflix beginning January 1st, 2015. I am SO excited. 
https://popgoescultureblog.wordpress.com/2014/10/15/friends-will-be-there-for-you-on-netflix/

Netflix has always been a show that is close to my heart. When I was younger I remember my whole family gathering around the TV to watch Friends. Not only am I excited because of nostalgic reasons but this show, in my opinion, is fantastic.
Google Images

Emily Orley from Buzzfeed posted an article with the details of the Netflix announcement. She writes, "Netflix announced on Wednesday that the entire Friends series will be available for streaming starting Jan. 1, 2015. That means for the first time ever on a streaming site, you can watch all 10 seasons, all 236 episodes of Friends, whenever your heart desires." 

The article also has a wonderful video of the Remembrandts performing "I'll Be There For You." The video also features Gunther. If you are a fan of Friends I encourage you to go to the article and watch the video.

If you love Friends you may love these quizzes Buzzfeed has to test your knowledge on Friends:
How well do you know Monica's Apartment?
Which Friends character are you?
Which Friends character said it?
How big of a Friends fan are you really?


Monday, November 3, 2014

Gilmore Girls- I Smell Snow


Dallon and I tend to disagree on the appropriate time to begin listening to Christmas music. Saturday, we were talking about when we could both agree to listen to Christmas music this year. We decided that when it finally snowed we could both handle listening to it. I turned to Dallon and said, "Watch, now it will snow tomorrow." Well... for those of you who live in Cedar City I personally apologize for the jinx I placed upon Cedar City. I woke up to snow on Sunday morning.

This brings me to Gilmore Girls. I adore this show! I flipped out with excitement when I saw that it was added to Netflix. For those of you who have not watched Gilmore Girls, you should know that Lorelai Gilmore is known for adoring snow.
I feel that I relate to Lorelai a lot in this aspect. Even though I tend to enjoy waiting until Thanksgiving to begin listening to Christmas music, I truly love this time of year. The atmosphere that the holiday season brings is lovely. I definitely was not ready for the snow yesterday but I did love the feeling it brought with it. Also I have a lot more clothing for the cold so that's another plus.

Let's also not forget the fact that I kind of, almost, slightly predicted that it was going to snow on Sunday.

I am so excited to pull out my little space heater and that it will now be a little more socially acceptable for me to binge watch on TV shows, cuddled underneath a blanket, sipping hot cocoa with biscotti. Dallon may not be entirely thrilled about the cuddling part but I'm sure he'll adapt. 

Like I said before, I am very sad the snow came so soon but I am not sad that it brought the holiday atmosphere to Cedar City. I hope you all will enjoy this season that I accidentally brought a little too soon.