Fun Friday Video!

It’s an allergy-filled, rainy Friday so in my house that means it’s a day to watch Yo Gabba Gabba! It’s my little girl’s favorite show and to be honest, I like it too. So we of course watched my favorite episode “New Friends” which had Jack Black as a full-episode guest star. I love Jack Black and can honestly say I laughed the whole episode. So for my friday video here is a clip of one of my favorite parts of the show!

Youtube won’t let me embed the video so click here to watch it!

Happy Weekend and don’t forget to enter my giveaway that ends tomw morning!

Hump Day. And Other Random Topics.

In high school I remember everyone making a big deal about hump day. Wednesdays. It wasn’t until later on in life I realized that MOST teenagers were calling it hump day for the absolute wrong reason lol. It means we’re getting over the hump of the work week…it’s all downhill til the weekend from here.

AND THANK GOD.

Many weeks this summer have flown by with playdates, parks, trips, ice cream and movies. But for some reason it feels like time is now standing still. Each day is feeling longer and longer. It probably has to do with the fact that my daughter has cut down to 1 nap/day even though she’s EXHAUSTED by 4pm. That makes 4pm-7pm the most tiring, stressful hours of the day. Charlotte is fussy about every little thing, the cat wants to eat an hour before she gets her food, it’s time to make dinner and clean up all of the toys, I realize how many things I didn’t get done that I wanted to (often including posting a blog!) and I attempt to look nice for hubbie’s homecoming…but honestly, after chasing a toddler all day and running errands, I’m not the most put-together person around dinner time lol. It probably also has something to do with the fact that I’m friends with and related to so many teachers and students, who are all preparing to go back to school.

I believe it’s called transition and by now I should have mastered this phase in life. But each time it catches me off guard and I start questioning my life. Should I join a play group for the fall? I need a hobby. Maybe I should join a gym. Are my friends mad at me? I should…etc etc.

But I realize that the only thing I have to do is stop and recognize this week for what it is. It’s a week (or 2) of transition. When my priorities may shift and my routines may change. It’s kind of the hump day/week of the year. Tomorrow it will be Sept and in NY that means the cooler weather is right around the corner. So although it’s sunny and 85 degrees today, the transition to long pants, pies, casseroles, holidays, leaves changing and socks coming out of retirement is just a bit further ahead.

So let’s all say goodbye to summer, take a picture of today, and look forward to the final months of 2011.

Here’s my picture of today (obviously before 4pm )

Fun Friday Videos!

This week has been a bit crazy here in NY! 1st an after shock of an earthquake (I didn’t feel it but most people where I live did) and now a hurricane watch. I must admit, I’m not a fan of this stuff. I know there are many people out there that get excited by thunderstorms and natural weather events, but me? I like a nice, clear, sunny day with a high of 70 and low of 50. haha. But seeing as reality is taking care of earthquakes and hurricanes, I thought I’d get in touch with my NY side and concentrate on blizzards and winter. Why would I do that? Well it justifies posting clips of a household favorite, Just Friends.

If you haven’t seen this movie and will be stuck inside this weekend (hopefully with power), it’s a movie that gets funnier each time you watch it. Not necessarily kid friendly though – so be cautious of your audience and enjoy! Happy Friday and East Coasters – be safe and make the most of this event in history (if it turns out to be one). Not much is better than having a story that begins “Back in 2011 during hurricane Irene…”

A Craft for the Not Crafty

If you know me you’re probably thinking “um, yea okay, you’re craftier than I am.” But the truth is, I’m not. I have the MIND of a crafter but absolutely no follow through, patience or ability to make things look as good as those crafty people out there. Really, just ask the 2 cross-stitch projects that are not finished, the countless puzzles started and then put away, the sewing machine that is fixed but untouched, the patterns and materials bought and sitting in the closet and all the pretty art supplies that look a little too clean after 4 years of owning them.

Anyone out there relating to this? Well I’m proud to say that I just did a “crafty” project in about 5 minutes and it’s something ANYONE can do!

Chris and I are constantly bothered by the coupons that print one to a page and then leave you with half a sheet of unused paper. If you’re as into couponing as I am, you have probably thought about this also. So we of course thought to use the paper as scrap paper but for people in an apartment attempting to stay clean and organized, there was really no smart way to store/use the scraps. But today I did something with them. I made a notepad out of materials I had around the house and no it’s not perfect nor worthy of selling but it’s good enough for me and most importantly, it was completely free, took about 5 minutes to complete AND is reusing materials I would have thrown out.

What you need: paper (any size, any color), a ruler if you’re fancier than I am, 1 colored paper/post it, a hole punch and a piece of ribbon.

All I did was trace one of my internet coupons and cut it out. I then used that as a “template” to create similar sheets with all of the paper I had. You can use a ruler and make it look real good but I just did it freehand. I then stacked all of the papers together and trimmed whatever edges really didn’t line up. Then I got fancy and took a colored post it and cut out a little rectangle to give the notepad a little color. I aligned the post it to the top and in small stacks, punched a hole in the center of each sheet. I then cut a piece of ribbon, stringed all of the papers together and tied the ribbon into a bow.

Yup, THAT’S IT. It’s quick, it’s easy, it’s imperfect and I’m proud of it! I might even get crazy and glue a magnet to the back and hang it on the fridge.

Friday Video!

For days (maybe even weeks) Pretty in Pink and John Hughes films in general have been coming into my life. And to be honest, who can resist some John Hughes? I know I can’t. For your Friday viewing pleasure…”If You Leave” – OMD to clips of Pretty in Pink. Enjoy!

 

 
And if that wasn’t enough – check out these 10 Best Love Songs from 80s Movies!

De-Guilt Your Guilty Pleasures

If you were to go around asking people what their guilty pleasure is, everyone would have an answer. Some would say they don’t because they feel REALLY guilty about their guilty pleasure…but I’m sure everyone has at least one. It’s normal to feel a bit guilty about liking something; whether you think it’s uncool, dorky, silly, wrong, not-Christian enough or whatever reason you claim. But if you think about it, that reason doesn’t keep you from liking it. The thing that I’m wondering is WHY we let ourselves feel this way. The Revelant Podcast recently discussed this briefly and it got me thinking…why do we allow ourselves to feel guilty if it’s something we LIKE? Now I’m sure someone will come up with something that they like and it really isn’t okay…but most of us label our guilty pleasures from the entertainment categories such as music, movies, people, magazines, or books. So really, why are we feeling so guilty? If it’s meant for entertainment, and we’re entertained, then we should be proud to be who we are and allow ourselves to like these things, guilt free!

So today I’m de-guilting my pleasures by telling my bloggy world what I’m a fan of, as uncool and nerdy as it may be. I invite you to admit yours in the comment section below, on facebook, on twitter, to a friend etc. TELL SOMEONE and PROUDLY be who you really are! It’s very freeing and I bet you’ll find a friend or two who is hiding the same secret!

My Guilty Pleasures

1. Disney & Nickelodeon TV. I’ve seen every episode of Hannah Montana and watched the movie many many times. I love the High School Musicals and Camp Rock movies. I’ve watched most episodes of Jonas and The Suite Life of Zach & Cody/Suite Life on Deck. There are many other shows I’ve seen and loved but you get the idea. I’m a closet teen TV fan.

2. Teen Movies. Especially ones catered towards girls. Love them all.

3. Pop dance radio. I enjoy listening to pop music and dancing around the house or in the car. 90s pop will always have a special place in my heart but I can’t resist dancing to some of the newer music either. Anything with a good beat. Ke$ha’s “Your Love is my Drug” is an uncontrollable force in my body once I hear it haha.

4. Checking facebook pages of people I used to know but have no interest in knowing right now. Not even for a gossip reason…just honestly curious. And of course I have that inner part of me that wants them (especially exs and ex-friends) to not be as happy as I am haha. Okay that I’m not proud of.

5. Baked goods for breakfast. I HATE having cookies and brownies in the house because I’m usually tempted to eat them instead of breakfast. I’m proud to say that I don’t 95% of the time…but I do cave sometimes.

6. Imdb. I’m a “need to know everything about this movie/actor/actress” type. I love useless trivia and commentaries.

7. Buying myself something when I don’t have money. Chris and I have been on a “tight” budget since we got married. We allow ourselves certain amounts to spend on ourselves but for some reason nothing tastes better than a latte that I know I shouldn’t be buying.

8. Country Music. Love love love it.

9. Teen Drama Shows. I’ve seen every episode of Gilmore Girls at least 3 times…some many many more. Also have seen every episode of Dawson’s Creek, Felicity, 10 Things I Hate About You and a few others. Currently watching Make it or Break it.

I’m sure there are more but this is all I’ve got for now. So have fun, be free, and start sharing those pleasures of yours!

Friday Music Video

Normally my Friday videos are funny…but seeing as tonight is date night with hubbie I decided to change for this week. He knows how much I love this song and how appropriate that he sent it to me I love you Chris!

Happy weekend all!

The Perfect Family…or not.

One of my favorite movies is the female-charged roller derby flick “Whip It.” I could sit here and quote the whole movie but instead I’ll jump straight to the quote that has inspired this blog post: (view actual scene here) “Just because you found a new family doesn’t mean you throw the old one away…”

I don’t know about you, but I could probably take a guess and say that Bliss (Ellen Page) and myself are not the only ones who have found a new “family” at one point in their life and thought about getting rid of their “old” family. It’s common and unfortunately some people really do it. But I’m here to talk you through that and hopefully you won’t, tempting as it may be.

The concept of family is a bit confusing to me. Two people love each other and get married (or that’s how it used to be) and start a family. Sometimes it’s 1 kid, sometimes it’s more…but either way, the couple produces an offspring. This person is then raised by their parents (usually) and grows up surrounded by the earlier generations of this family. All of these people share genes and therefore have overlapping traits, personalities and learned habits. However, each person has their own unique qualities as well. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t question God, but seriously…it just sounds like a setup for disaster. So that’s my conclusion – family = disaster. SO WHY DO WE EXPECT ANYTHING DIFFERENT?

So many people are out searching for their “perfect” family…the Brady Bunch concept. Well ya know what, the Brady Bunch wasn’t perfect and neither is anyone else. God put a bunch of imperfect people together “for life” to help people LEARN how to love. Love is a feeling/emotion/concept that comes easy when you get to choose the person. Everyone else you have to learn how to love. That goes for your blood family, your adopted family (if you have one), your church family, your married into & extended family…all families are disaster zones. But God commands us to love and forgive and move forward. The bible tells us to forgive and forgive and forgive and forgive. This is not a concept just for the prophets or teachers or “good” people. Learning to love and learning to forgive is for everyone and it’s what helps a family stay together and grow together. It’s so unfortunate that some people don’t see it that way and this concept/trait is a growing epidemic. Kids raised with unforgiving/not loving parents are usually not equipped to break the cycle and therefore will teach it to their kids and so on. We as children (no matter what age) have to make the active decision to break these hereditary curses. It just takes 1 person to break the chain and change the future of their family tree. Are you brave enough to be that person? To swallow your pride and selfishness and agree to disagree with someone? To forgive when it’s painful to even THINK about it. To apologize to the hardest people to admit failure to. To choose to love those that don’t seem worthy of loving…

The truth is, if you don’t learn to love and forgive – you’ll never find a family that’ll live up to your standards. All you’ll be left with is a lot of “old” families that you threw out.

I’ll leave you with one last movie quote from another favorite of mine. “Love is not a feeling – it’s an ability” – Dan in Real Life

Becoming Aware

5+ years into marriage and 1+ years into parenthood and I’m STARTING to become aware of who I really am. I have to tell you – as a single, non-Christian I had NO idea. As a single Christian I started getting a glimpse. As a married Christian I started seeing myself but not understanding myself. Now as a married Christian who is a parent, I’m beginning to understand a bit more. And for once, I’m starting to make sense.

If I were to make a list of things that I enjoy doing, qualities I look for in a spouse/friend and expectations I have of people in my life, it would point to a few choice words…all of which help define who I am as a person. Some of those words are: peace, trust, joy, accomplishments, loyalty, beauty, dependency, creativity and simplicity. In the past I’ve studied personality types and know that I’m a mix of phlegmatic and melancholy. That makes sense to me. I’m easy-going and carefree at times but lost in thought and detail specific at other times. But I never thought to analyze whether I’m an introvert or extrovert. After reading a post by The Hippie Housewife (courtesy of links provided by Creekside Ministries), I realized that not only am I an introvert – but understanding what an introvert is will FREE me of the pressure it creates in life.

I really do believe that understanding who you are will help you become the best version of yourself possible. It will also help you to improve the things you don’t like about yourself and stop trying to be somebody you aren’t. Let’s face it – I will never walk into a room and become the center of attention (I even managed to stay out of the spotlight for most of my baby shower!) but if I’m honest with myself, I DREAD circumstances like that, and that’s okay. It’s not for everyone and it’s about time I allow myself to feel that way. Have you ever considered what you hate/love and why? Do you spend hours trying to change yourself even though you haven’t found a biblical answer telling you that you should? I know I have. But the truth is, we were all created different for a purpose. We won’t all like coffee and we will all not be leaders. We can’t all create our own fancy boxes from a few simple materials and we aren’t all going to bake every child’s birthday cake. We won’t all throw amazingly themed parties or all read every top selling book. We’re not all going to write songs or books and we’re not all going to start our own businesses. We’re not all meant to be stay at home moms and we’re not all meant to host a bible study or mom’s group. AND THAT’S OKAY.

It’s time we become aware of who we are and what that means for our lives. It’ll make life so much more enjoyable and relationships more authentic. I know it’s something that I’ll be working on – will you consider doing it too?

Friday Dance Montage Video!

Life has really been crazy, busy and emotional lately. It’s been hard for me to get my thoughts together enough to write a blog or 2 or 3. So I’m hoping next week I’ll be back to a regular posting/writing routine. But until then, please enjoy this video of the 3 things that have helped me stay smiling and sane this month of July…funny tv shows, movies and dancing/dance music Happy Friday. Happy Weekend. Just Dance.

Oy with the Poodles Already!

Don’t get the reference? Well, then you aren’t as big a Gilmore Girls fan as I am. Not many people are, it’s okay. We can still be friends. (Click here to watch the reference: Oy with the Poodles Already)

I haven’t been posting lately and I promise, it’s for lots of good reasons. Some of which I’m going to share with you now.

3 weeks ago I got a call from my parents that my childhood dog had gotten too sick and it was time to put him down. It was hard to hear but I knew they were right. It was so hard to say goodbye…but I truly believe he’s up in heaven with my God playing with lots and lots of tennis balls. A few years ago someone I respected told me that they don’t believe animals go to heaven. I’ve always struggled with that but have come to my own conclusions and finally have peace about it. I love resolved heart issues.

In that same weekend I got a call that my dad was having breathing problems and almost went to the hospital. I was assured he was fine but something in my heart and spirit knew that he wasn’t. So I spent the week praying and fasting. Then I got a call that my dad was in the hospital with heart trouble. I really don’t want to go into details out of respect for my father’s wishes to keep this off the internet gossip highway and because it’s just a lot of “then we went here and this doctor said this” etc etc. So here’s the summary. My dad had a non-damaging heart attack. We spent the weekend getting transferred all around and seeing specialists and then finally landed with a diagnosis of 3 clogged arteries that needed repair and a special diet and lifestyle change to follow. It was hard for him and my family but I’m happy to report that he’s feeling much better and is following doctors orders to quit smoking and eat healthier.

This past week my husband took off of work and we have been on a family staycation. We’ve been hanging out at home, eating out, went to the zoo, lots of shopping and have been enjoying some quiet time at home. It’s really been nice. But I must say, it hasn’t been relaxing. For whatever reason God has put a lot of large items on our hearts and minds so we’ve been taking most of this “quiet” time to discuss them. Unfortunately it’s a lot of discussion and not a lot of answers so there really isn’t much to share…but I’d love for you to take a few minutes and send some prayers our way. Most of these items are things about the future and we just need some clarity on the details and timing. We’re a couple that prays about things big and small but will jump if we don’t hear not to…so we really need to keep our ears out for the “no”s and “not now”s.

So that’s the update. It’s a bit less detailed than I’d like but honestly, I don’t have the energy to go back down the paths I’ve been on for 2 weeks. I’m all about looking forward and sharing what I see ahead. And compared to the road I’ve been on – I see a lot of rainbows and unicorns right ahead. I’ve been talking about rainbows and unicorns a lot lately…Rainbow Brite anyone?

Fun Friday Video!

It’s Friday isn’t it? Here’s the video Charly and I went crazy dancing to this morning – hope you love it!

5 Years IS Something to Brag About

Not that many years ago if you told someone you were married for 5 years you would get a simple congratulations and that would be all. But today, 5 years is something to brag about…especially with a good, healthy, loving marriage that is only getting stronger by the day. Chris and I hit our 5 year mark yesterday. July 7, 2006 in Springfield, VT we got married at a small Victorian bed & breakfast in front of our immediate families, my grandma and my best friend. It was small, it was intimate, it was low-key, it was perfect. But one thing is for sure, it was just a day. Yes, an important day, but it breaks my heart when I see couples so focused on getting engaged and planning the wedding and not on building the foundations for a great marriage. Because honestly, marriage is stinkin hard. There are so many things working against you that taking a year (or 2) to plan a party and daydream about a dress is just asking for immediate problems.

Now don’t get me wrong, Chris and I are far from perfect. But we’re perfect for each other…and working on the things that aren’t perfect. It’s so important to keep marriage in the front of your mind at all times. The things you do and think about are either working towards your success or deterring from it. Sure the results aren’t right away, but the habits you build and things you justify now will build and build and overflow at some point. Communication is key and marriage has taught me that i’m HORRIBLE at communicating. I like tucking things away inside my head for no one to get to. I have the ability to forget but not forgive. I can be the queen of not saying what I mean and expecting my husband to just know what to do. Let’s be honest, most men don’t know what to do instinctively. They’re just not wired that way. So women need to learn to communicate in a way they understand. And at least for me, it doesn’t come natural. But that’s the fun thing about marriage. There is always something to be working on. No one has it all figured out and there won’t be a point where all is good forever and ever. Sure you may live happily ever after…but it’s because you’re creating it day by day with your partner.

So as I spend my day excited and getting ready for our anniversary date night tonight, here is my favorite topic on marriage, spoken about in a fun way. It explains why you ALWAYS need to be building your relationship…men and women are just too different to ever think you have it all figured out. Enjoy!

Perception is Deceptive

Think back to being a teenager and remember the feeling of being ignored. Whether you were the kid passed by without a glance from the cool kids or the cool kid who wanted more attention from your parents. Maybe you wanted a cute boy to recognize you or the teacher to notice how hard you’ve been working. Maybe you even strived to be “bad” to stand out from your peers or siblings. Whatever your story, I’m sure you have at least one memory of feeling ignored and hating it.

Now think about the present. Do you ever walk through a room or church or store and ignore someone? Of course you do. There is no possible way to recognize and say hello to every person you see. Now imagine one of those people noticed that you ALWAYS walk by without saying hi. You mean nothing by it…but they perceive you as ignoring them. Ever do that? How about this…ever been that person feeling ignored? It’s a very scary cycle that we all go through and the power of it is indescribable.

I’ve heard it preached that when we get to heaven we will see how many lives we’ve influenced – whether intentional or not. The simple smile you give to a nice cashier or the dirty look you shot the person who stole a parking space from you. The kind word you spoke to your mailman or the feeling the mailman had by seeing you every day and never getting a moment of your attention. I bet you can think of at least 4 situations where you’ve been the ignorer, the ignoree, the nice person and the not so nice person.

You see, I know I’m going to go to church tomorrow and ignore someone. For all I know, this person has seen me week after week and I’ve never noticed them. There will also be people that don’t say hi to me for whatever reason (on purpose or not) and I’ll notice, again. But the thing I’m realizing is that this cycle of perception is so dangerous because many times these occurrences are not intentional. However, they can turn into offenses and hurt feelings which then leads to walls and missed relationships.

I know from experience that some people don’t like me until they get to know me. One of my longest friendships started after I proved to a girl that I wasn’t the stuck up snob she thought I was. I was just shy and quiet and homesick and hurting. Another friendship started after I proved to another girl that I wasn’t as weird and “punk” as she thought I was. Some people will judge me based on my appearance or unintentional dirty looks. Others will assume they’d have nothing in common with me. And some will even think that I wouldn’t want to talk to THEM. It’s all deceptive perceptions. And that stinks that so many relationships will not happen due to these lies. But the worst part is that I’ll do the same thing to other people. I won’t talk to someone because they’re loud and I’m not a loud person. I won’t meet someone because they already have 10 friends and why would they need another? I’ll judge someone for the way they treat others rather than considering maybe they’re just having a bad day.

See where I’m going with this?

Well if not – let me spell it out for you. Make a conscious decision to break the cycle every single day. As I said, you cannot say hi to every person you see. But you can TRY. Set a goal. Say hi to 5 new people a day. Smile at a person who looks sad. Finally go over and introduce yourself to the person you’ve seen 100 times and feel weird about never meeting. Be kind to strangers. Thank your mailman. Go meet your neighbor that you’ve noticed but pretend you haven’t. Make a difference in someone’s life.

Fun Friday Video!

For any of you that have been reading my blog for a while you know that I used to have a Friday tradition. I broke from the “norm” and posted a fun video to start the weekend right! It usually was some kind of funny dance or song but it really just depended on my mood for that day. Well, I’ve decided to bring it back. There are just too many serious things going on in the world, I think we all need a day to let loose and laugh a little!

So, here is my fun video of the day. I’ve watched this multiple times over the past month and I just can’t resist sharing with you. I hope you enjoy it and have a great Independence Day weekend!

…but wait! If you are in the need for MORE laughs, click on “friday” in the tag cloud to the right and check out previous friday posts!