A Commoner Suggests Some Music

I love music-I always have and probably always will.  My tastes runs from everything from classic, rock, rap, pop, you name it -except country-can't stand anything country or anything Taylor.  But lately I can't stop listening to Hands All Over by Maroon 5 and especially that catchy song Moves Like Jagger.


Now Maroon 5 is one of those groups you hear all the time.  They are like background music kind of like Matchbox 20.  But then something happened to make them a standout-a show called The Voice.  The Voice is one of those talent shows but the celebrity judge in this show was Adam Levine from Maroon 5.  He was a something-he looked great-was very cool-lots of fun-great tattoos and hey he was funny and he could sing.

From then on when a Maroon 5 song came on you were like hey! I like them.  And this song Moves Like Jagger-come on you can't help smiling when it comes on and when it starts I will bet you know matter where you are or what you are doing some part of you is tapping, moving, whistling, singing and maybe even smiling.  Sure he could have done without Christina Aguilera screaming in the song but she can't even kill the dance music, pop, happy vibe of this song.


Since it would be really cheap of you to give anyone a song as a gift and how would you pull that off-you should buy the whole CD because it's pretty good.  Never Gonna Leave This Bed will have you singing too.


So for the music fan on your list I suggest Maroon 5 Hands All Over and Moooooooveees Like Jagger

The Commoner's Idea for the Fitness Buff on Your List

I've been a runner on and off for the past 15 years or so.  Sometimes I love it sometimes I hate it but it's the most efficent, cheapest way to get in shape and lose weight and this year it did a lot for my mental health.

But I'm not going to lie it can be boring and it can be hard and sometimes it's easier to just walk.  I've found something that has changed the way I run.  I introduce to you the Nike+ Sensor.

Now I'm a Nike girl.  I like to say I'm sponsored by them except for that I pay them to wear their stuff.  I don't know why I like it except it looks good, is quality, works for my feet, and I like that it's American (not made in America but you know an American brand).

The Nike Sensor sells for about 30 dollars.  You of course have to have a Nike shoe with the space for it under the insole and of course need an Ipod or Iphone (4 or 4S).  This little item will tell you how far you are going, how fast you are going and my favorite how many calories you are burning (never as much as you think but still).  When you get home you plug it into your computer and wala-your run is recorded.

This has helped me to run faster and further than ever before, because anyone who knows me knows I'm a data freak and I'm driven by the voice in my headphones and the graph on my computer...there's no cheating -don't even try.

So for the runner on your list I offer you the Nike + sensor and all the accessories that go with it.