Summer Cardio Playlist 2010

As promised and at long last, here is GG’s summer cardio playlist!!!!  Not only are these songs the perfect tempo for cardio but they spark that glorious summer giddiness we crave all year. ~

Summer Cardio Playlist

How about going for a run on this beach?!

“California Gurls” by Katy Perry . . . A celebration of the carefree days of summer!  KP recorded this song during the perfect time – very symbolic for my fam’ right now!

“California Man” by Cheap Trick . . . I can’t leave out the boys!!  This is a Cheap Trick sleeper hit.  If you don’t remember this song, you will wonder why. My high school pom squad won first place with this -I still remember (and can do!) the kick sequence.

“The Sound of Sunshine” by Michael Franti & Spearhead . . . the quintessential summer song!!

“Club Can’t Handle Me” (From Step Up 3D) by Flo Rida . . . this is the song that So You Think You Can Dance is using for the national routine for everyone to learn for National Dance Day.  I just learned it!!  It’s a very happy, feel good song – like last year’s “I Gotta Feelin’!”

“Heroes” by David Bowie . . . such a good song to keep you moving to your goal!

“Ecstasy” by Rusted Root . . . a definite summer vibe going on here; plus, it’s the only band that ever excited me enough to dance barefoot at a concert.

“Cecilia” by Simon & Garfunkel . . . when you get to this song, turn up your mp3 player one more notch – trust me!

“Shine” by The LoveFreekz (Ultra Dance 06) . . . great to blast on the treadmill or in the car on a warm sunny day.

“Right Here, Right Now” by Fatboy Slim . . . just when you’re starting to feel the steam diminishing, this longer song repeats but it’s the perfect running pace that will keep your eye on the prize.

“Joy to the World” by Three Dog Night . . . this was my late father’s very favorite song; it exemplifies his “joie de vive.”  It’s just a tad slower than the rest of the songs; hence, it makes for a perfectly positive seventh-inning-stretch to your hard-earned exercise.

“(They Long to be) Close to You” by The Cranberries . . . from the “If I Were a Carpenter” CD - this version is breathtakingly beautiful.  Cool down with this and walk off with a summer glow.

Next Playlist:  Rockstar Playlist – no dance remixes on this one . . . pure rock & roll . . . not entirely characteristic of a GG playlist.

Click here for a link to GG’s previous popular playlists!!

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Bon Chic Bon Genre

My Favorite Designer!!

No, GG has not gone French!  While I’ve studied 7 1/2 years of French, my site would not be complete without me raving about my very favorite fashion line.  I can’t say enough about this line!!  BCBG’s Max Azria has been my favorite designer for six years . . . and counting.  It all started with a little red velvet halter dress I purchased for a wedding in 2003.  This dress fit like a glove without hugging too tightly; moreover, it was comfortable and spawned many a compliment.  Since that first fateful find, I’ve purchased (and received gifts of ) many BCBG dresses, shirts, sweaters, pants, shoes, and handbags.  I wear BCBG pieces, on average, three times a week.  BCBG is my go-to apparel when I’m pressed for time and don’t have a chance to answer the infamous “What Shall I Wear” question  – I know that if I grab a BCBG piece, I’ll look polished and refined.   I even attribute BCBG to one of the bonds between my sister-in-law and me.  I became very excited when I discovered we shared BCBG as a fave; today, scavenging a local BCBG boutique is a staple activity we share whenever I’m in town to visit.

BCBG is an acronym for the french phrase bon chic, bon genre—or good style, good attitude. This illustrates the vibe of the line.  Designed by Max Azria under the close supervision of wife Lubova, the label hosts legions of celebrity clients, 475 retail boutiques worldwide, inclusions in major department stores such as Nordstrom and Macy’s, and a slew of offshoots – including the more casual BCBGeneration (which my daughter enjoys!), the more upscale Max Azria Collection, and BCBGirls footwear.   Dresses and mix-and-match separates are the brand’s bread and butter: youthful but not cutesy, easy-to-wear, and with a bit of an edge.   Clients include Paris Hilton, Angelina Jolie, and Sarah Martineau.  I personally have had the surprise pleasure of spotting two specific pieces that I own on television celebrities:  Misha Barton sported the same matte-jersey pink mini dress on “The O.C.;” Eva Longoria sported my blue wrap top on “Desperate Housewives.”  It’s fun to spot your own clothes on celebs!  With all this famous following, you’d think the clothing would cost an arm and a leg to purchase.  Not so – this is the one upscale clothing line with the midscale price tags.  In fact, I can almost always scoop up a stellar piece (or two or three!) in the surprisingly stocked sales racks.  Purchasing BCBG is a win-win!

On GG’s Wish List for this Season!!

Every season, I “doggy-ear” my catalog’s favorites before I head for the boutique.  Here are the dresses I just bought this weekend.  I’m very happy and proud to say I purchased each at Macy’s or Lord & Taylor’s @ 30 – 50% each!!!

Grading Girl gives BCBG an A+ for timeless class and elegant, easy-to-wear style.  In fact, I wore a black cotton BCBG dress when I shopped for these . . . the third time this week that I donned BCBG.  I see myself continuing to be faithful to this line for a long time to come.  Thank you, Mr. Azria!

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May “Flower” Cardio Playlist

As GG followers know, I tire of my playlists quickly and need continual motivation to keep trecking on those unforgiving cardio apparatuses.   Since May and June are my two very favorite months of the year, I tend to be in extra gleeful moods around now.  I have a few exciting things going on in my life these days so I’m finding myself exclaiming joys of glee even more loudly than the average day.    These songs match my mood and they’ll serve as pick-me-ups for any workout warrior.  Turn it up:

“Life in Technicolor” by Coldplay . . . there’s something about this two minute instrumental that makes me feel like I can accomplish anything.  1:25 into the song, I get goosebumps!

“Gettin’ Over You” (featuring Fergie & LMFAO) by David Guetta . . . Unless you live on another planet, you know that Guetta is the hottest DJ producer out there right now.  I instantly liked this when it blasted on my car radio.

“Rock That Body” by Black Eyed Peas. . . a song that charges the engines early in the exercise regime.

“My Life Would Suck Without You” by Glee Cast . . . now, before you roll your eyes about Glee – this version is super-charged to get you to run to your destination.

“Need You Now” (CPR Remix) by Jimmy Rep . . . this gives a happy twist to a normally sad song, just the way it’s supposed to be!  Dare you not to sing along to the chorus.  If the person on the treadmill next to you gives you a funny look, you’ll know why.

“Circus” (Villians Remix) by Britney Spears . . . a sexier version of the original!

“Amazing” (Kaskade Remix) by Seal . . . Seal’s wife (you-know-who) requested this exact version to play in the background during a recent magazine photo shoot!  It’s fabulous!

“California Dreamin’” (Tek-House Extended) by Royal Gigolos . . . I’ve been California dreaming a lot lately and this version is perfect to get you in a get-ready-for-summer mood!

“Dreams” by The Cranberries . . . this is actually GREAT for the bicycle but works well with any type of cardio.

“If We Ever Meet Again” by (feat. Katy Perry) by Timberland . . . a nice start to the cool-down because it’s not too fast and not too slow.

“Song Beneath the Song” by Maria Taylor . . . I actually secretly end with this song A LOT.  There’s something about it that I love but I haven’t quite figured out why yet.  It’s the perfect tempo for the very last song as well.

Check out GG’s many, many other popular playlists at Favorites:  Cardio Playlists.  Click, scroll down, and fill that mp3 player!!

Coming in June . . . Summer Playlist!!

Coming in July . . . RockStar Playlist!!

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“Spring into Spring” Cardio Playlist

The songs on this month’s list celebrate the sunshine of spring!  Each song on this compilation is upbeat, guaranteed to get your heart pumping and your feet thumping!  → → →

“The Fear” (Stonebridge Radio Edit) by Lily Allen . . . fun, wicked lyrics!

“Single Ladies” (DJ Escape Club Remix) by Beyoncé . . . a faster tempo than the original.  Perrrfect for a workout to get you in your maximum fat-burning ‘zone.’

“Telephone” (Kaskade Extended Remix) by Lady Gaga & Beyonce . . . I picture the crazily creative video!

“I Gotta Feelin” (FMIF Remix) by Black Eyed Peas . . . this version gives me an extra bounce to my stairmaster stepping!  The original is fabulous enough but this adds fun variety!

“Viva La Vida” (Thin White Duke Remix) by Coldplay . . . there is a point in the middle of the song that gives me goosebumps every time.

“Untouched” (Listen Deep Remix) by The Veronicas . . . the desperation will leave you sweating . . .

“On the Dancefloor” (featuring will.i.am and apl.de.ap) by David Guetta . . . this one makes me want to jump straight from the gym to the nearest dance club.

“I Wanna Go Crazy” (featuring will.i.am) by David Guetta . . . fits seemlessly with the previous song!

“I’m in the House” (Gigi Barocco Remix) by Steve Aoki (with will.i.am) . . . a beat that will pump the blood in your veins.  See a pattern here?!  will.i.am songs rock!!  Trivial fact:  Steve’s father, Rocky, is the founder of the Benihana restaurants.

“Not Myself Tonight” by Christina Aguilera . . . brand new.  Reminds me of girls’ nights out on the dance floor!!

“Proper Education” by Erick Prydz vs. Floyd . . . starting to cool down at just the right tempo with an updated classic.

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Savvy Sites 3

  

 

These are the latest sites I’m obsessing over: 

~ One Word: Every day brings a new word!  Click on “go” and you have 60 seconds to free-write on the word of the day.  Submit your response to a podcast for even more opporunity to share!  A stretching brainercise for the creative juices!!! → 

http://oneword.com/ 

~ Despair DIY: Create your own demotivational posters.  You can have your students create these to reflect theme or character OR create some for fun yourself and give them as gifts!!  (warning:  it may be hard to maintain appropriateness!!) → 

http://diy2.despair.com/ 

~ Literature Quizzes & Games – Sporcle: Got a few moments?  Test your literature know-how. From Hamlet to Lord of the Rings to Tales of Beatrix Potter . . . you will have fun getting lost on this site.  Fun for everyone at many levels and ages → 

http://www.sporcle.com/games/category/literature 

Click here for more sites I find EXTREMELY helpful! 

And here!!!

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So Little Time . . . Only One Word

I just stumbled upon this website and instantly realized I will be able to use this in all of my classes . . . not to mention play on it myself for my own writing warm-ups.

It’s called oneword.com.  Here’s how to join the fun ✏

• Once you are on the site, click on the little circle “Go” icon.
• You will have EXACTLY 60 seconds to ‘free type’ about the word you see at the top of the page.  You can write phrases, lyrics, poetry, definitions, thoughts, whatever comes to your mind regarding that word the instant you see it.
• A little bell will signal when your time is up.  You will have a chance to finish the sentence you are on – and that’s it!
• Finally, you enter your name and email address (which remains private).
• Your 60 second post will appear in the archives for that word.  You can view what others wrote for the word-of-the-day as well as check out what words were posted on previous days.

Added bonus:  you have the option of recording your writing on to a posted podcast!!

It’s a fun way to warm up the writing muscles!!!  Perhaps you can open a class with this . . . or simply begin your day with 60-seconds of writing!

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March Motivating Cardio Playlist!

This is the month when we start to catch “Spring Fever.”  This is the month when we want to pack away our winter gear and don the breezier spring pieces.  This is the month where our hearts turn to new love, we get the urge to clean and make things fresh, and . . . we realize bikini season is just around the corner!!!!

I read a funny quotation on an advertisement at my gym today:  “Spandex is a privilege, not a right.”  Too funny!   So boys and girls, if you want to fit into your ‘spandex’ or any other snug-hugging, revealing spring and summer ensembles, let the music take over.  These are the songs (new and old!) that currently motivate me the most to MOVE!!!! ☛

Requirement:  These must be turned up for ample motivation!!  Recent studies show that turning up the volume on your IPod (to a safe level, of course) boosts adrenalin and cardio power!!!  

“Jump” by the Glee cast. . . This is a giddier version of the original.  So, so, so fun – it makes me want to leap off of the treadmill.  [maybe I should just go use the mini trampoline in my basement   ]

“California Dreamin” (Tek-House Extended) by Royal Gigolos . . . You’ve never heard a version like this before – it’ll keep your feet in perfect rhythm to your destiny!

“Rock Me” by Liz Phair . . . I love songs with silly lyrics . . . perfect moderate beat for the middle of the mix.

“A Little Less Conversation” (JXL Remix) by Elvis Presley . . . Yes, this was the Las Vegas theme song, so it will put you in the ‘breakation’ mode!

“What Are You Waiting For?” by Gwen Stefani . . . Okay, this is the part of the workout where you really pick it up again.  I saw her in concert, and she completely ROCKED this song!!

“Forever” by Chris Brown . . . I picture the now infamous YouTube video of the dancing wedding party . . . I’m so doing that at my wedding!!

“Don’t Stop Believin’” by the Glee cast . . . Admittedly, I could put almost all of the Glee songs on here, but this is definitely their “classic.”

“Give a Little Bit” by Goo Goo Dolls . . . Warning, you may find yourself singing along to the chorus before this song is over!

“Send Me on My Way” by Rusted Root . . . I saw them in Chicago at the Aragon Theater years ago.  When I walked in, I looked strangely at the eccentric ‘groupies’ jumping around to the songs barefoot – by the end of the concert, I was doing the same thing.

“Just Say Yes” by Snow Patrol . . . I’ve always liked this group, and this is one song that gives you that empowered feeling.  A great song to end your workout and leave the gym with.  Because, in the end, it’s all a happy ending!!!

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Tubular Videos #4

Here are my current favorite videos.  There are some fabulously inspirational gems here!!  For my educational followers, most of these could certainly be used in the classroom.  For everyone, each video offers its own meaningful message and entertainment value.

This is SOOOO GOOD!!  It visually illustrates a philosophy I truly believe in and try to follow – live in the moment!!  To live in the moment means to appreciate the here and now while not dwelling over the past nor anxiously worrying about the future.  Living in the moment means being truly present with what is going on around us presently.   Here is an invitation to be nourished by what each moment of our lives brings us:

(thank you to Michele Bueston for sharing this video)

This dance troupe is amazing.  As a former stage performer and current basement dancer (ah . . . if only the fly on the wall could talk!), I wholeheartedly appreciate this group’s feats →

When my daughter was little, I used to keep a bulletin board in our garage on which I’d post newspaper/journal/magazine articles of “good” things happening in the world.  This would definitely be something I would post; it’s a reminder of the sincere goodness within humankind.  About midway through the video, you’ll know what I’m talkig about.   It will make you smile →

I opened my speech class with this one day . . . after the goosebumps subsided, the students were inspired to begin composing their own presentations. →

If you are a fan of The Office and you are a teacher, you will truly appreciate this.  This is a funny parody on teaching technology in the classroom!! →

(thank you to Larry Ferlazzo for sharing this)

Speaking of teaching, here are The Top Ten Things They Don’t Teach you About Teaching.  These hit home!!! →

Conan’s farewell speech . . . an inspirational class act all the way! →

This is a little bit older but still just as relevantly inspiring . . . how one man traded a red paper clip for a house →

Not only are the pictures breathtaking, but the communication between this man and carnivore sea beast is fascinating →

Okay, I have to end with a just-for-fun one.  My daughter sent me this link . . . she knows I’m a hopeless romantic.  I have to admit, this is a SWEET video that will make you smile from ear to ear! If you haven’t seen this yet, you just may want to →

I have so many more videos I want to share . . . ’til next time!  GG

For more of GG’s favorite videos: Tubular Videos , Tubular Too, and More Tubular Videos

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February Valentine Playlist

In honor of this short month’s prominent holiday, Valentine’s Day, I’m in the mood to share one of my easy listening cardio playlists rather than my usual heart-pumping compilations.  You can certainly use this during cardio; in fact, just today, I listened to it while climbing the stairmaster.   I chose and ordered the songs on the list to provide the perfect tempo for rhythm and motivation to keep moving.  Incline treadmill walk, rowing machine, stair climb . . . this list would complement each nicely.  A couple of these are my top all-time favorite songs so enjoy!!

“Postcards from Far Away” by Coldplay . . . this 47 second instrumental tease opens the list perfectly.

“The Beginning of the Partnership” by Stephen Warwick. . . this is my song!!!  It’s 1.47 minutes of leaping musical notes – the theme song to Shakespeare in Love that not a lot of people recall but should.

“Falling in Love at the Coffee Shop” by Landon Pigg  . . . I don’t know why, but this song makes me want to cry.

“Just Breathe” by Pearl Jam . . . I could listen to this over and over.  This is my favorite Pearl Jam song.

“Dream” by Priscilla Ann . . . I picture a lyrical to this – I want to do piquées and pirouettes barefoot in a white dress.

“Love Story Meets Viva La Vida” by Jon Schmidt . . a goose-bump generator begging for loud volume.  I played this once while my students were quietly working and hardly a soul in the room wasn’t tapping a finger or foot at one point.  Over half downloaded the song later!!  You’re welcome, Jon Schmidt!!!

“I Wanna Dance with Somebody” by The Side Project . . . this is a pretty piano compilation of the famous top 40 Whitney Houston song.  The original is special to me and somebody who does love me.

“Every Breath You Take” by Sting from his All this Time (Live) album.  An inventively re-arranged, slightly more upbeat tempo of one of my top five favorite songs!!  Speaking of inventive re-arrangements, here’s a unique video cover of the same song ☞ Every Breath cover

“Breathe in Breathe Out” by Mat Kearney . . . a newer release.  I recently discovered this artist . . . he has some memorable meaningful songs.

“Spinning” by Merril Bainbridge . . . I’ve liked this song for 10 years now – makes me smile and sway.

“Only Time” by Enya . . . this is another one that has a special meaning.  There was a time I couldn’t listen to this – I’m glad it’s back on my list and I know it’s the perfect tempo for yours!!  Truthful lyrics.

“Gravity” by Sara Bareilles . . . perfect beginning to the end.  Poignant, powerful lyrics.

“January Rain” by David Gray . . . Gravitating guitar!!!  A great example of how music magically makes us feel good!!!

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January New Year Cardio Playlist

It’s a new year in a new decade!!  It’s a time for renewing, trying new adventures and reaching new goals.  A motivating soundtrack to accompany the journey is not only a perk but a necessity along the way.  Here is Grading Girl’s FIRST cardio playlist of the decade!  Jumpstart those resolutions, charge those MP3s and get moving!!!

“Ring-a-Ling” by Black-Eyed Peas . . . a perfectly moderate tempo to ring in the new workouts

“Let Me Think About It” (Radio Edit) by Ida Corr vs. Feddie Le Grand . . . very infectious!!

“In My Arms” (Kaskade Radio Edit) by Plumb . . . It is as if I wrote this song!!  The lyrics hit home hard!  This faster, remixed version really gives the song an extra positive vibe.  It will make you step higher on the treadmil.

“Cho Dongho: The Ting Tings: That’s Not My Name” . . . I have two different versions of this song on previous playlists.  This group is nominated for Best New Artist this year with good reason.  Their upbeat songs are good, clean fun! Find this version for free on VSHolic – Victoria’s Secret supermodels strutted to this on the runway during last year’s fashion show.

“Untouched” (Listen Deep Remix) by The Veronicas . . . Just when you are starting to tire, this song’s tune makes you keep stepping!!

“Sex on Fire” by Kings of Leon . . . This is the lesser-known, solid song by this band.  Try it – you’ll like it!

“Use Somebody” by Kings of Leon . . . Blends seamlessly with the previous song, and a perfect one to start your slowdown.  This song is rightfully nominated for this year’s Record of the Year.

“Dream” by Priscilla Ahn . . . a sweet song to end with.  Wonderful!!!!!

***If your workouts are longer than this list allows, try filling in the time with songs from the two Glee soundtracks.  Dare I say many are more fun versions than the originals?!?  You will undoubtedly feel happier listening to these songs – just be careful, you may find yourself singing along!!!

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