Sweet Marie

A Must Read

2012-01-31T16:04:00.000-07:00

I just discovered this website. It's very interesting. And there's one letter that I think everyone should read. So good.

On the Road

2012-01-31T14:35:00.000-07:00

For no logical reason I can figure out, I just can't take people seriously while they're driving a Dodge Neon.

anyone

2012-01-31T08:58:00.000-07:00

For some reason, parts of this poem have been going through my head today, so I thought I'd share:

anyone lived in a pretty how town
by e.e. cummings

anyone lived in a pretty how town
(with up so floating many bells down)
spring summer autumn winter
he sang his didn't he danced his did

Women and men (both little and small)
cared for anyone not at all
they sowed their isn't they reaped their same
sun moon stars rain

children guessed (but only a few
and down they forgot as up they grew
autumn winter spring summer)
that noone loved him more by more

when by now and tree by leaf
she laughed his joy she cried his grief
bird by snow and stir by still
anyone's any was all to her

someones married their everyones
laughed their cryings and did their dance
(sleep wake hope and then) they
said their nevers they slept their dream

stars rain sun moon
(and only the snow can begin to explain
how children are apt to forget to remember
with up so floating many bells down)

one day anyone died i guess
(and noone stooped to kiss his face)
busy folk buried them side by side
little by little and was by was

all by all and deep by deep
and more by more they dream their sleep
noone and anyone earth by april
wish by spirit and if by yes.

Women and men (both dong and ding)
summer autumn winter spring
reaped their sowing and went their came
sun moon stars rain

The Guidelines

2012-01-27T15:11:00.000-07:00

Dating is not my favorite thing. There are a lot of elements you can't control; it can be painful/awkward/dehumanizing; there's a lot of criticism that comes from people who should have no say or opinion on the matter. But the reality is, I want to find my own leading man, so I date.

Back in college, I came up with some guidelines for guys I date. I really am trying to not be too rigid, but a girl's got to have some standards. After much thought and introspection, here's what I came up with:

He cannot wear a smaller size pants than me. Considering I am not an overly large person, I think this is a reasonable guideline. Plus, I like being reminded of "While You Were Sleeping" whenever this one comes up.
He cannot have better hair than me. I would love to end up with a fella who I think is as dreamy as all get out. But when it all comes down to it, I prefer being the good-looking one in the relationship. He can have other great qualities, but if people are commenting on his lovely locks more than mine, I can't deal.
He cannot wear more jewelry than me. Usually, like-minded people end up together. This guideline helps with that. If a guy has more metal in his face/ears or around his neck/fingers than I do, we probably aren't going to get along.

You may or may not agree with these guidelines, but so far, they've worked for me. Most of the guys I've dated for any amount of time have fallen within these.

What about you? If you're single, what guidelines do you have? If you've already found your someone special, what ones did you use? Did they work? What would you have changed?

Two of Hearts

2012-01-21T11:49:00.000-07:00

I'm in a good mood this morning. Partly because of the memory of the following scene from "Hot Rod" and partly from other things. Bill Hader and Danny McBride crack me up. I would totally have a dance party with them.

Golden Globes 2012

2012-01-16T09:17:00.000-07:00

I haven't had a chance to actually watch them yet, but I have had time to look over the gowns from the Golden Globes this year. And I must say, I was in no way blown away. I can't say that I saw a single dress that really rocked my world. Was that just me? Did you see any stunners that I might have overlooked?

For what it's worth, here are the handful of dresses that did catch my eye:

Clair Danes

Ms. Danes tends to be drawn to gowns that showcase her back. This one does it beautifully. And while it's not a jaw-dropping gown, it is elegant.

Helen Mirren

Will Ms. Mirren ever not make it onto one of my best-dressed lists? This is not my favorite of her gowns {that would be this one}, but she still keeps it classy and continues to school the younger gals.

Busy Phillipps

Again, not a particularly stunning dress, but I do enjoy that Ms. Phillipps went with a classic Grecian gown but with a bit of interesting fringe detail. I also adore her ring.

Michelle Williams

Stated simply, I love that Ms. Williams chose a dress that is modest. She shows us that you can dress up, keep covered up and still look incredible. Thank you.

Berenice Bejo

The lovely lady from Argentina stars in the silent film {and fast-growing hit} The Artist, and she showed up looking like a star. Of all the gowns I saw, hers is my hands-down favorite. The color is perfect for her, and {as is typical for my tastes} she chose a gown that has interesting details in the cut of the fabric. Bravo, Ms. Bejo.

Leonardo DiCaprio

To help keep things balanced on the men's side, Mr. DiCaprio showed up looking as handsome and dapper as he is always at these award show functions. We ladies very much appreciate it.

Thank you Just Jared and the Internet for all my pictures.

Down Under Love

2012-01-13T10:00:00.000-07:00

The great country {and continent} of Australia has given us many treasures:

Great slang - G'day, mate!
Adorable animals - kangaroos, koalas
Entertaining Movies - "Strictly Ballroom", "Man From Snowy River"
Weird foods - Vegemite
Rocking bands - INXS, AC/DC
Amazing Architecture - Sydney Opera House

Hot men - Hugh Jackman, Eric Bana and {new-to-me} Joel Edgerton

I find him to be incredibly delightful, charming and easy on the eyes. And as a note of interest, he'll be Tom Buchanan in the new Gatsby movie coming out later this year {directed by fellow Aussie Baz Luhrmann}.

Why have I not visited this wonderful land? Anyone want to go?

Say It Ain't So

2012-01-04T12:12:00.000-07:00

If this really is true, then I'm going to be heartbroken for the rest of the day.

Maybe longer.

The Review

2011-12-31T13:56:00.000-07:00

And once again I've made it through another year. 2011 was . . . what?

Good? Fun? Scary? Tumultuous? Exciting? Upsetting? Lovely? Disappointing? Survivable? Blessed?

Yep.

Here's to 2012, a very {hopefully} happy new year.

A Very Carson Christmas

2011-12-29T10:41:00.000-07:00

Here's a delightful video with a taste of Carson to tide us over until Downton Abbey series 2 begins next month.

Merry Christmas

2011-12-24T11:03:00.000-07:00

I love thee, Lord Jesus; look down from the sky
And stay by my cradle till morning is nigh.

Be near me Lord Jesus; I ask thee to stay
Close by me forever and love me, I pray.

Bless all the dear children in they tender care,
And fit us for heaven to live with thee there.

The Boss Man

2011-12-23T08:53:00.000-07:00

Have I ever told you that my boss is a real bear?

Sheesh.

A Berry Happy Birthday

2011-12-23T08:51:00.000-07:00

How much do I love my little nephew, Jackers? Enough to dress up as his favorite cartoon character and surprise him at his birthday party.

Sure love this kid.

A Very British Christmas

2011-12-20T12:59:00.001-07:00

A couple of my previous posts had me thinking:

It's good to know what you want for Christmas.
And Britsh men are pretty fabulous.

With that in mind, I have decided to put together my list of who I wouldn't mind seeing under my tree Christmas morning.

{Yes, a gratuitous list of gorgeous men follows. No apologies}

Dan Stevens - My new current favorite. Dan is, of course, part of the ensemble of Downton Abbey. And if you haven't watched the first season yet be forewarned - he'll break your heart with how incredible he is.

Bradley James - Oh, Bradley. If only you would gaze at me like this. Bradley currently portrays Prince Arthur on "Merlin," and he's brillant. He's funny, he's fit, and the writers often have him shirtless. Yes to all that.

The Knights of Camelot - And while we're in that vein, let's also celebrate Sirs Leon, Gwaine, Lancelot, Elyan, and Percival, some of the men who sit around Arthur's round table. Such good, noble and fiercely hot men.

Luke Evans - A new discovery who I quite enjoy. I've only seen him in the new "Three Musketeers" but there was plenty to like. He definitely has the whole British, brooding, beauteous voice thing down. More please.

Richard Armitage - And I can't do a list like this and not include an oldie, but a goodie. I look forward to seeing him as Thorin, the dwarf, in the "The Hobbit" next year. It would be even better to see him wrapped up as a gift for me, but I won't hold my breath.

So, who are your new {or old} favorite British delights?

What's a Weekend?

2011-12-12T08:42:00.000-07:00

Oh, yes. It's back. On January 8, we'll get to peak in again on the lives of the Crawley family and their staff at Downton Abbey. PBS has a promo that you can watch here. But I have to say that I enjoy the tone of the ITV promo much better. Either way, I get to enjoy Dan Stevens. Lovely.

A Gentleman

2011-12-09T16:02:00.000-07:00

And now I love him even more.

The Anti-Gift List

2011-12-09T12:34:00.002-07:00

I know this time of year many people are thinking about gifts - What should I buy my loved ones for Christmas? What do I want for Christmas?

As a selfish singleton, I think about this stuff a lot. But this year I thought I would take a different approach. Why? Well, why not? Instead of making a list of the different kinds of fun goodies others could give me, I thought I would make a list of things that I most definitely do not want for Christmas.

1) A ~~boyfriend~~ husband pillow

Yes, I'm single. Yes, I'd prefer not to be. But having this headless, half-torso, muppet-handed pillow in my bed would be more depressing and disturbing than comforting.

2) A copy of the newly released "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" dvd

Now, this may be a confusing one since many of you know that 1) I love the original "Planet of the Apes" with Charlton Heston and 2) my boyfriend, James Franco, is in this reboot. However, even with these wonderful things, there is a key element to consider - the monkeys {all-over body shiver - ewww!}. I am not so much a fan of monkeys, and so I think it's safe to say that a movie that not only features them {quite realistically, as opposed to Mr. Heston's film}, but also shows how they take over the planet, no thank you.

3) Any black hills gold jewelry

If I have to explain this one to anyone who would be buying me a gift, then I am worried about the state of my current relationships.

4) A kitten

I do not dislike cats. I think they can be very cute. I know that they are very smart. I think in the right circumstances they can be lovely companions. But the last thing I need in my life right now is a pet {or anyone}who has no strong feelings about whether or not I'm around. And with my luck, I'd end up with the one cat who doesn't care if I feed it or not because it's just so utterly annoyed with me.

5) A canister of pepper spray

I am all about being cautious and careful and prepared to defend yourself if needed. But. Let's take into consideration that it would be me using it. How well could I defend myself from an attacker if I've just sprayed myself in the face? Not very well. So for now, it would be best for me to stick with my ninja skills or ability to run away very fast.

Hopefully this list will help as you prepare to shower me with Christmas gifts. And perhaps if you've been good this year, you'll not see any of this under your tree either!

Merry Christmas!

Yep, Still Here

2011-12-02T15:52:00.001-07:00

Yes, I'm still alive. Life has just been fairly hum-drum for the past couple of weeks, and I haven't had any bursts of creativity or odd ideas to share. Thanksgiving was good. I made some cornbread stuffing {almost with cilantro instead of parsely} that turned out pretty good and enjoyed many other wonderful dishes while dining with part of my family. I got a much-needed haircut. I replaced many expensive things on my car. And I got to hang out with sister #2 and Gator for a lovely girls' night of pasta and "Parenthood" {maybe I should write a post on how I am in love with that show . . . and Joel}.

Maybe things will pick up this month. But maybe not.

Nope

2011-11-16T08:13:00.000-07:00

Sorry, but no, he's not.

My theory is Ryan was too modest to accept.

Autumn into Winter

2011-11-12T17:17:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure quite why, but days like today make me want to wrap up in a blanket with some hot tea and watch "Dead Poets Society." Perhaps I shall.

Messed Up But So Funny

2011-11-11T11:58:00.002-07:00

These pictures may haunt you for the rest of your life, but they are still pretty funny.

Happy Friday.

I'm Happy About This?

2011-11-10T10:10:00.000-07:00

A few years ago {do we really need to get specific on this?}, I did a semester in London. It was, of course, fabulous in countless ways. One of the things that I gained from that experience was the introduction to the store H&M. I had never been in a store like it before - it had lots of cool, modern, different and beautiful clothes at incredibly reasonable prices. Being a poor student, I couldn't afford to buy everything that I wanted, but for my birthday, I was able to splurge on a few very cool pieces {thanks again, Mom and Dad!}. They are things that I still wear today.

However, upon my return to the states, I sadly learned that there were no US locations. Quel horror. A few years later {I'm not that old, y'all, seriously}, I learned that a store opened in New York City, and there were plans to expand. It was a slooooow process, but one eventually came to Las Vegas! where I was living at the time. Happiness and joy. I made occassional purchases, that I especially loved to wear when I went out of state because it was sure to be unique. I moved back to Utah and could only get my H&M fix on visits to Vegas or NYC or Columbus (when visiting Little Sister), but that was alright since I still had some cool clothes that most people around me did not. Not to be all braggy, but I got tons of compliments and comments on my H&M clothes. And I loved it because I knew it would be rare for someone else to have the same thing.

Fast forward to the present. Tomorrow morning the first H&M store in Utah will open at Fashion Place mall. When I first heard about this, I was utterly torn. H&M in my neck of the woods - happy face! Other people that I see quite often having easy access to these awesome clothes as well - not-so-happy face. Part of my love for H&M is that their clothes are unique, and not having a store nearby made them all that much more unique. Now that that won't be the case, will my love for them wane? It worries me a bit.

Regardless, the store is still opening, and I will at some point make a visit {as will thousands of other Utahans who seem to have a weird, intense passion for new things and throng them in crazy numbers, but that's a discussion for another day}. Welcome to Utah, H&M. I hope you enjoy your stay.

Halloween 2011

2011-11-07T20:15:00.001-07:00

It was another fabulous year. I didn't have time to get in multiple costumes this year, what with the NYC trip, but that's alright because Ninja Marie met up with a princess ballerina, a ranger, a duck, Darth Vader, Superman, Simba, a bumblebee, a pirate maiden, Rapunzel, Rapunzel, a peacock and the 3 Amigos. Good times were had by all.

Yes, ninjas can be near-sighted. So what.

There's This Guy . . .

2011-11-07T08:33:00.000-07:00

. . . that I've been hanging out with all weekend. And he's a football player and really funny and super sweet.

And one of the cutest nephews in the world. I was there to witness his amazing win on Saturday. Good job, Fred. You're the #1 quarterback in my book.

Being an aunt is one of my favorite things in the world. Spending time with this guy, and his siblings, makes me one happy gal.

Utah? Utah? Well, Welcome to America!

2011-10-30T21:01:00.000-06:00

When I was in high school, I took a theater trip through my school to New York City one summer. It was amazing. A.ma.Zing. One of the things we did was visit Katz Deli on the Lower East Side, where they filmed an infamous scene from "When Harry Met Sally." The guys behind the counter were very nice, and you could tell they were accustomed to tourists stopping by. So they asked us where we were from. Someone in our group told them Utah. One of the guys scratched his head, looked us over and said, "Utah? Utah? Well, welcome to America!"

And even though not everyone in that city knows about my home, I sure love visiting that place. I've made a trip every year for the past four years. It's a tradition I hope to keep. This year was especially sweet since I got to go with two of my sisters {the third thought she should stay and go to her law school classes - silly girl}. We had a terribly wonderful time, as evidenced in the huge number of photos that follow {really, there's a lot - be prepared}. We went on a food tour, shopped, looked at priceless art, ate great food, shopped, laughed and even caught a show or two. It was so great being in one of my favorite places with a couple of my all-time favorite people. I can't wait until I get to go again.

Night time in the city I love

The start of our food tour

One of the 9/11 memorial pools

Battery Park view of the Statue of Liberty

Taking a call in Times Square

Sculptures and stained glass at the Met

Hugh's back on Broadway!

Getting some photos in Grand Central

The busy main concourse

The three of us on our Brooklyn Bridge walk

Possibly?

2011-10-19T16:19:00.002-06:00

I worry this is true sometimes.

Science Fiction

2011-10-17T09:28:00.000-06:00

I discovered a wonderful new way to watch and enjoy romantic comedies this weekend. It began with an article written by Mindy Kaling for The New Yorker earlier this month. In it, she explains why she likes these kinds of movies, being able to see them as, " a subgenre of sci-fi, in which the world operates according to different rules than my regular human world." And it's true. In these films, situations consistently occur that are completely unbelievable, unrealistic, unfathomable, etc.

So, Saturday night, my sister and I were trying to decide on a movie to watch. We ended up picking a romantic comedy {a very bad one, I might add}. I mentioned Ms. Kaling's take on these films, and as we watched, we would yell out, "Science Fiction!" every time something totally and completely unrealistic happened {super hot guy laughs at nerdy girl's quirky behavior; super hot guy does anything with the nerdy girl}. There were also moments when we would yell, "Real Life" as well because those moments popped up, even if rarely {nerdy girl airs out her armpits a bit before seeing super hot guy}.

I highly suggest you give this a try. It makes the movies a lot more ~~bearable~~ entertaining.

Could Anything Ever Be This Good Again

2011-10-12T21:08:00.000-06:00

It was amazing, incredible, loud, entertaining, and most definitely well worth the wait. Thank you, Dave, for an evening that truly rocked. I hope to do it again sometime.

Now, if I could just convince you to join the No Cussing Club, I think we could be BFFs for real.

Two For One

2011-10-12T14:06:00.000-06:00

Don't get too excited, ladies, but two, yes, two of our Hollywood darlings are celebrating a birthday today.

Mr. Jackman

and . . .

Mr. Cameron

Although I'm guessing unlike Mr. Jackman, Mr. Cameron hasn't rocked that look for a while.

Happy birthday, gentlemen.

Best of Foo

2011-10-11T09:00:00.000-06:00

Yep, the concert is tonight. Tonight! I've had serious Foo Fighters on the brain for the past few days. I thought I'd share some of my favorite lyrics to help others who may not understand why the Foo Fighters are so stellar. You know, besides the fact that they rock.

I can change, I can change, I can change
But who you want me to be?
-Stranger Things Have Happened

Breathe out, so I can breathe you in
Hold you in
-Everlong

Truth ain't going to change the way you lie
-Dear Rosemary

I'm a new day rising
I'm a brand new sky to hang the stars upon tonight
-Times Like These

I'm what's left, I'm what's right, I'm the enemy
-The Pretender

If you walk out on me, I'm walking after you
If you'd accept surrender, I'll give up some more
-Walking After You

You and I were two old and tortured souls
Repaired by a love of broken things
In a life, just some bodies growing old
No fear of the end, of anything
-Statues

Al . . . lan?

2011-10-10T14:22:00.000-06:00

Hey, look. My brother is in a movie about Edgar Allan Poe.

Oh wait.

Sorry. Allan, Alan. Looking deceptively the same with their goatees. Confused myself for a second. Carry on.

Medicare's Around the Corner

2011-10-05T12:41:00.001-06:00

I don't know how other people measure the passing of time and how they start to know they're getting old, but I've just found a new one for me.

Bill Haverchuck, aka Bill the Stud, aka Martin Starr the actor, was on an episode of Community last week. But not as a student. As.A.Professor!

Yep, this guy

is now old enough to play a college professor. As evidenced below {he's the one in the blazer and beard}.

Seeing this literally threw me for a loop and caused me to believe I had entered some very weird time leap. But no. I just got old. Yep, "Freaks and Geeks" was on television over 10 years ago.

Next thing you know people will be telling me Jim Carrey is a grandfather.

Wait. What?!

P.S. For those other "Freaks and Geeks" fans out there, you should check out this video, if you haven't already. It's pretty sweet.

It's Only A Matter of Time

2011-10-03T10:39:00.000-06:00

In just about a week's time, I get to see one of my all-time favorite bands, The Foo Fighters. And if I was a person who used exclamation marks a lot, you would better understand how completely and utterly stoked I am. I can hardly wait. Seriously, I'm so excited I'm having a hard time concentrating on anything else.

Their new album, Wasting Light, is incredible. If you haven't had a listen, you really should. During what down time I had this weekend, that's about all I listened to. But their other stuff is great, and I can't wait to hear all of it next week.

Here's a little something from the Foos for you to enjoy. An oldie but a goodie.

P.S. Doesn't Taylor make a surprisingly pretty girl? Like really pretty.

Some Mormon Messages

2011-09-30T11:19:00.000-06:00

This weekend is General Conference for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and it is one of my favorite weekends of the year. We get the chance to hear from our leaders about topics they feel are important for us to ponder and review right now. There are lots of good things shared over the course of the multiple sessions. If you live in or near Utah, you can most likely catch them on television. Or you can follow online through the website. I highly recommend it, if you're a member of this church or not. I promise you'll be uplifted.

And to give you a better idea of what you might hear, here are some excerpts that have been put in a great video series called "Mormon Messages." You can find these the the same website as above or on YouTube.

The Great Debate

2011-09-29T10:41:00.000-06:00

For me, it ultimately comes to down to

Ryan

Ryan?

And I . . . well, I just can't decide.

Cuteness Overload!!!!

2011-09-27T14:41:00.001-06:00

From the MSN/Today website, I give you . . .

PANDA BABIES!!

Oh, if you thought that was cute, than check this out.

MINI PIGLETS!!!

I'm not the kind of girl who usually posts pictures of adorable baby animals, but come on! Could you die from the cuteness?!

And why am I using so many exclamation points? Do the baby animals have that effect on everyone?

It's More Than a Sign

2011-09-26T10:36:00.000-06:00

In case you needed more proof {I don't} that the universe wants Kevin Bacon and me to have a connection, possibly even become BFFs, please look at this picture he posted on Twitter {of course I follow him - don't you?} of his wife. Now scroll down just a bit and look at the photo on the right of me with the frog.

Yeah, I know. Cosmically amazing.

Emmys Fashion Review

2011-09-19T09:52:00.001-06:00

Normally, the Emmys don't have the pull on me that the Oscars do. Not nearly the same drama, not nearly the range of superstars. And that was true again this year . . . until I looked at some of the dresses. And who doesn't want to look at pretty dresses?

So here are my favorites from last night. Click on the photos to enlarge.

Kate Winslet
What is Miss Kate doing at the Emmys? Well, she was in a mini-series that was nominated {but lost to another awesome (British) series}. So, of course she had to show up looking fabulous. Like she does.

Kaley Cuoco

I love the retro-ness of her dress. Plus, I'm always a sucker for black. And with the red accessories, it doesn't come off as too formal or stiff.

Aubrey Plaza

Not only is she on my current favorite comedy, she dresses well! This is classy and elegant but still age-appropriate. Love it. Love it all.

Evan Rachel Wood

Evan is not someone I usually look to as a fashion favorite, but I absolutely adore this gown. It's modest(!) and gorgeous. The beading is all over but not overdone. And while I usually don't love the structured-shoulder look, it looks fantastic here.

{And yes, the gown is probably backless, but let me dream that it's not}

Amy Poehler

This may not be the most stunning dress, but I think the color, especially the metallic sheen, is beautiful. And again, it has sleeves! And a high neck! And still works for the event. Bravo, Amy.

Okay, No There's Not

2011-09-14T11:05:00.001-06:00

And I made it a whole week. But it's not my fault. I mean, look at Leo on this cover. How could I not share this and give it the proper attention it deserves?

I'm only human people. And when you live in a world filled with beautiful men, you just have to give in.

There's More to Me Than That . . . Really.

2011-09-07T15:22:00.000-06:00

I was going to post something today, but I realized it was going to be about beautiful men {essentially}, and then I realized I blog about that quite a lot.

So, until I can come up with a non-man-praising post, I will be on hiatus.

It may be a long time before I return.

Excellent Part 2

2011-09-02T13:48:00.001-06:00

It's time again to wish happy birthday to one of my favorite fellas - Mr. Keanu Reeves. Yes, I've already confessed my liking for him, so let's just get over that and celebrate with him.

Acceptable forms of birthday celebrating for Keanu? Go surfing, duck a bullet, save a bus from blowing up, give a presentation on what historical figures would think of our modern world, pretend to be married, drive a race car, wear a turtleneck, have an affair in France, grow a beard, fight demons, replace an NFL quarterback during a players' strike, give up being hardcore ad exec, or just have a piece of cake. He'll pretty much be happy with whatever. Happy birthday, dude.

Oh, Bananas!

2011-09-01T12:08:00.000-06:00

What happens to a perfectly good banana when it is accidently left in a car all day in 90 degree weather? Well, this:

Reasons to Smile

2011-08-30T16:42:00.002-06:00

Fat guys riding scooters (eg - Vespas)
Being given two kinds of cookies by two different people on the same day
Ridiculously funny texts from friends
Meeting new guys who {gasp!} appear normal
Joke after joke about tiny horses from apparently-normal new guys
The thought of tiny horses
Refresher piano lessons {my 10 year old self may disagree}
Babies {really, aren't they the best?}
British people who make great TV shows {they will always have a special place in my heart}
Life being so, so good.

And yours?

The Festival

2011-08-22T08:45:00.000-06:00

I spent some time with Bill "The Thrill" Shakespeare this weekend in Cedar City. The festival was lovely, the plays were enjoyable, the tarts were delectable and the overall atmosphere was splendid, even if Bill was a bit . . . wooden? Standoffish? Stiff? I'm not really sure, but he definitely was not quite himself.

Some Relationship Guidance

2011-08-19T08:50:00.001-06:00

Spot on. A bit unrefined but spot on.

A Motley Crew

2011-08-18T17:45:00.001-06:00

While Youngest Sister was in town last week, we attempted to take some family pictures. The photographer was great. The subject matter on the other hand . . .

{Click to enlarge}

Now imagine adding 5 more adults and about 20 kids. It's amazing that we accomplished anything at all.

I sure love these people. And yet, I have no idea why.

MASHed

2011-08-10T13:51:00.000-06:00

According to the very prophetic {and very dependable} outcome of a round of MASH that my sister did for me last night, I shall:

Get married!
To James Franco!
And have 3 of his kids!
Then become a professor!
And live in Belgrade!

Hmm. Maybe it should be more like:

Live in Belgrade . . . huh.

I Wonder . . .

2011-08-09T11:27:00.000-06:00

Will Eric Bana think it's weird if I send him a homemade birthday card stating that I'd give up my left lung just be able to tie his shoelaces for him?

Probably, huh?

Oh well. Guess I'll just tell him happy birthday from here.

What's Next?!

2011-08-08T11:40:00.000-06:00

I love to read. No, really. I LOVE to read. That's part of why I studied English - it gave me an excuse to read more books and to be told what to read. But I've always loved it. When I was really little, my mom would read bedtime stories to my two older sisters and me (we all shared a room at the time). I still remember looking forward to that each night. As I got older, I devoured whatever I could get my hands on. Some of my favorites as a kid were the Ramona Quimby series (or anything by Beverly Cleary), the Great Brain series, the Babysitters Club series and Judy Blume books (although technically I wasn't supposed to read those - sorry, Mom). As an preteen/teen I loved Jack Weyland. But at the time, I wasn't living in Mormonland, so those books seemed so unique. And there was always a new one coming out.

Now, I read just about anything, but it's not always easy to find something new to read that's good. In fact one of the things I fear and dread the most is finishing a book and not having another one ready to start. Bah! What am I going to read now? I'm in a book club with sweet Nichole and some other lovely ladies, so that helps, but we only meet once a month, so what do I do the other three weeks of the month? Most recently, the most interesting thing I've read is a brief history of the British monarchs, from Henry VIII to Elizabeth II, which was good, but now what?

I need suggestions all the time, but I'll take whatever you can give me now. Really. What have you read that you've loved? Even just liked a bit? And if you read a great book sometime in the future, will you leave a comment on my blog about it? I will be eternally grateful.

I just wish it was still as simple as reading the newest Charlie Brown book about Valentines Day. Oh well.

Mitchell & Webb

2011-07-28T16:45:00.000-06:00

I need a bit of a laugh today, so enjoy.

Awww . . . Part II

2011-07-22T13:53:00.000-06:00

And the kind of greeting my co-worker prepares for my return when I'm out of the office for a couple of days.

I am such a loved girl.

Awww . . .

2011-07-19T08:29:00.000-06:00

The kind of love notes my family members leave for me at work.

What a Magical Experience it Has Been

2011-07-15T09:29:00.001-06:00

I can distinctly remember sitting in the movie theater a little over 10 years ago, trying desperately to finish the end of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone before the movie began. I had heard a bit about the series, but it wasn't until my friend Kristin's ceaseless praises for it sunk in that I started to read them. And since I have a thing about reading a book before I see the movie {whenever possible}, I was doing some serious speed-reading. Thankfully, I finished in time, and then sat back to watch the beginning of an incredible series of movies. And then I read the other books as quickly as I could get my hands on them. I was absolutely enraptured.

It started with these three:

And now it ends with them . . .

. . . and it's amazing to think how much time and energy I've invested with them and the characters they portray. But for very good reason I believe. Some people, including those who haven't read the books, think that this is just great series of children's books about magic and wizards and a fantastical alternate reality. And yes, it is. But it's also so much more, loads more. And now that this last chapter is here, I'd like to share some of the lessons I've taken from my repeated readings and viewings.

Life is hard, no matter who you are or how old you are. But it's more about how you choose to deal with these difficulties that matters.
A true friend sees your weaknesses and faults and loves and helps you anyway.
Doing something is always better than doing nothing. And even the smallest, seemingly insignificant person has something to contribute.
Making people fear you will never instill loyalty and trust.
We should help others who cannot help themselves.

And my favorite one of all

There is no power in the world stronger or purer or better than love. It will always win in the end.

What about you? I know many of you have invested just as much time as I have with Harry, Ron and Hermione. What are some of the things you've learned from their story?

Six Degrees of Wonderfulness

2011-07-08T08:57:00.000-06:00

In our office, we're having these

to celebrate his birthday today.

Bacon - it's wonderful in many forms.

#21's Birthday

2011-07-08T08:52:00.001-06:00

Just a year ago, little Gator was a tiny thing. Adorable, but tiny.

She's still tiny and adorable, but now she's one and allowed to eat cake . . . which she did with gusto. It made me very proud.

And then she turned into E.T. baby when two of us took her picture at the same time. Slightly creepy, but mostly adorable.

Happy 1st birthday, little fuzz head.

Cowboys vs. Country

2011-06-27T16:13:00.000-06:00

A friend came over to my house this weekend, and I happened to be watching a Western mini-series. She was surprised that I liked that kind of thing. I was a bit concerned that she didn't know that about me {because, really, that's important stuff}, so I explained that although I don't like country music or most modern-day cowboys, I love me some 1800s, dusty, cow-herding, six-shooting cowboys. Maybe that's part of why I love horses so much. Hmmm.

Anyway, to better illustrate my thoughts . . .

Yes:

And at the risk of offending people {not my intention}, no:

Because, really, is there a comparison?

The Mack Family

2011-06-20T12:50:00.000-06:00

My wonderful brother-in-law had a missionary companion named Denny Mack. In the years since they've returned, they have kept in touch. They have each married and had kids. On a recent trip to visit my sister and brother-in-law, I learned the incredibly sad news that Denny's sweet wife, Wendy, passed away from a congenital heart defect while 8 months pregnant. Their premature baby passed away a couple of days after Wendy.

I've blog-stalked the Macks through my sister's blog because their family is so sweet and cute, and to find this out was like finding out a friend I had never met passed away. Recently I read through the things Denny wrote about Wendy and felt like I should do something. But I had no idea what. Just the other day he updated the blog with some more things on Wendy and Maylee, the baby they lost. He also added a link to a website put up by some of their friends. These friends are trying to help Denny and his family out because, due to her condition, Wendy had no health coverage. So now, Denny is responsible for paying off the hospital and funeral bills, all while trying to take care of himself and three kids.

Please, please, please help out if you can. As they mention on the website, any amount helps. Skip lunch or dinner out this week, don't go see the movie at the full-price theater, buy cheaper brands at the grocery store for one trip, make whatever sacrafice you feel you can. Please help. Even though I don't know the Macks personally, I know that they will appreciate anything you can do for them at this time.

It's Official . . . I'm in Love

2011-06-17T16:24:00.000-06:00

With Paul Rudd. But how can you not be? Who else does adorable, sexy and funny? Nobody.

And if you actually need more reason to love him, just watch this scene from "I Could Never Be Your Woman."

Serisouly. I'm so in love.

First Dates

2011-06-14T10:39:00.000-06:00

I've been thinking quite a bit lately about first dates. Maybe it's because I watch The Bachelorette {yes, I do - no apologies} and witness so many trainwreck dates. Maybe it's because I was recently reprimanded by one of my teenage friends for not dating more. Yes, it's been . . . cough . . . a little while since I've had one. But whatever. It's also because, despite the bads ones I've had, I think first dates can be great. Thankfully, I've had a few that were so great that I can't help but have hope in future ones.

There was the one where my date and I were sitting on some front steps enjoying a summer evening when suddenly he grabbed my hand and took off running because he heard the music of the ice cream truck. There's the one where my date and I {and few other couples} ate a yummy home-cooked dinner at sunset on the top of the science building of our college. There's also the one that was a complete surprise {the very, very good kind}, and all we did was drink some sodas as he taught me how to play chess.

Don't get me wrong. I love hearing first date disaster stories as much as the next person, but I don't know that we share the really good ones with each other enough. You know you've had them - even if they weren't with your present significant other. And I think I need to hear some more of the good ones. So, this is what I ask of you - let me know about one {or more} of your good first dates. And then ask your friends to share theirs with me too. And your family. And anyone else who knows how to comment on a blog. Maybe all the goodness sharing will help me. And you.

ABCs of Me

2011-06-13T16:31:00.000-06:00

Now for a completely self-indulgent post . . .

Age: 34

Bed Size: Queen (because I am one)

Chore I hate: Honestly can't think of one - cleaning is a stress-release for me

Dogs: So wish I had one, and I will . . . someday

Essential start of my day: NPR and oatmeal

Favorite Color: Don't have just one

Gold or silver: Silver

Height: 5'4"

Instruments I play (or have played): Piano, flute, guitar

Job Title: Service Representative (and Office Goddess)

Kids: So wish I had one, and I will . . . someday
Live: Salt Lake City, Utah

Mom's Name: Elizabeth

Nickname: Rie, Riezy Squeezy, Bucko

Overnight hospital stays: None

Pet Peeve: People saying "I could care less" rather than "I couldn't care less."

Quote from a movie: "Remember Red, hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies."

- Andy Dufresne, The Shawshank Redemption

Right or left handed: Right.

Siblings: 3 of each kind

Time I wake up: Usually around 6:30/7:00

Underwear: Yep

Vegetables I dislike: Haven't found one yet

What makes me run late: It takes me so long just to figure out what I'm going to wear. Or uncooperative hair.

X-rays I've had done: Teeth, arm, wrist
Yummy food I make: Mango ginger couscous

Zoo animal: Hippo - I had a very interesting experience with one once. Maybe I'll tell you about it someday.

And please steal this idea for your blog. Just tell me about it so I can learn some things about you.

I Recommend . . . Summer Edition

2011-06-10T11:19:00.000-06:00

So many good things to recommend. Summer has so many good things, doesn't it?

Watch good movies - There are actually some good ones coming to the theater this summer, but I also think it's a great time to watch old movies you love. So that you can remind yourself why you love them. And there are a few parks (at least in the SLC area) that show movies on Friday nights, which is a great way to enjoy a summer evening.
Write a letter - I had someone send me a letter {a real-they-sat-down-with-pen-and-paper-and-wrote-me-a-letter letter} recently, and it absolutely made my day. Think of how easy it is to write a letter and how much the person getting it loves! it. Plus, you could write it outside and soak in some vitamin D.
Eat a shaved ice - Do I even need to explain this one in more detail? Yum, yum, yum!
Take a walk - Another lovely way to get outside and indulge in the summer-ness of summer. Plus, it's free. That's always good.
Have a summer romance - I don't care if you're single, married, it's complicated or whatever. I think this summer we should all have a summer romance. Don't we deserve it? Oh, maybe I've been watching too many love story movies as of late, but I still recommend a bit of romance for us all. And so do Jane and Edward.

What do you recommend?

Random Friday Thoughts

2011-06-03T16:25:00.000-06:00

Why is it that the roundest ladies seem to have the smallest feet? You what I'm talking about. Those ladies who are round like an orange, and then they have these tiny feet. And they always seem to be wearing tennis shoes. I'm always amazed when I see one of them that she's balanced and upright.
The more I hear and read about all the crazies in the world, I think it's a freaking miracle that I turned out as {relatively} normal as I did.
Does a girl ever not want to get flowers?
I had a calf suck on my thumb this week. It was awesome. And it made me want a calf for a pet.
Recently I did a round-off in a pair of heels because I wondered if I could {no worries, I was wearing pants}. And yep, I can.
Sometimes I really, reaaaally wish Leslie Knope was a real person, and I could be friends with her. Or maybe just meet Amy Poehler. Either would be cool.
I have a super awesome fun trip to New York planned for later this year! The only problem is that I have to wait until later this year to go. Boo.
If I ever get a dog, I'm going to name it Jasper or Barkley or Mr. Fuzzy Britches or Willard.

Happy Friday!

Not Again

2011-06-01T09:14:00.000-06:00

I have serious Channing-Tatum-on-the-brain today. But really . . .

can you blame me?

Ron Says . . .

2011-05-31T10:45:00.000-06:00

Fact: Parks and Recreation is one of the best shows on television. Fact: Ron Swanson is one of the most enjoyable characters on the show. Fact: This is another totally awesome Tumblr.

Before & After

2011-05-22T11:06:00.000-06:00

Ch-ch-ch-changes

are good for you.

Come Fly with Me

2011-05-19T12:49:00.000-06:00

I just got back from a very lovely visit to my younger sister and her family in Ohio. So I won't become a sobby mess thinking about how much I already miss them all, I'd like to share some random thoughts I had about flying and traveling.

Are you an aisle or window person? I'm totally a window person because I don't like people crawling over me. I want to get to my spot and not have anyone bother me. Not even the flight attendant. No, I don't want a drink and I don't want peanuts. Please leave me alone.
Do you engage other passengers or try to avoid it? I'm such an ignorer. Once I get in my little window seat spot, I pull out my book, put in my headphones, etc so that the person sitting next to me will leave me alone. Unfriendly on my part? Perhaps. Much more enjoyable flight and fewer awkward conversations? Oh, yes.
Do you get territorial about your seat/space? I do, in a completely passive-aggressive way. I'm not tiny, but I'm definitely not huge either. I happen to fit just perfectly in the miniscule seats they have on planes. And it drives me nuts! when someone slops over into my space, whether that's by using my armrest or being too smelly or talking too loudly or whatever. Last night on my flight home, I sat next to an old guy {Yes, old - he had white hair . . . coming out his ears. Eww.} who applied lotion multiple times during the flight. Really? Each time he did I would glare at him because he kept knocking his elbows into my arm and his lotion was too smelly for a small space {and for an old man!}.
Do you become a weird, overly aggressive version of yourself when in an airport? That's not how I am at all, maybe because I typically travel all by myself and don't like confrontation or contention, but it's kind of funny to see other people transform. I notice this most at the baggage carousel. Some folks have to get in just the right spot, even if it means blocking out a sweet old grandma or some lady with 5 little kids. It's not a competition, and no, I really don't want to snatch your old flower-print suitcase. Just back off a bit.

Thoughts? Do you have odd travel idiosyncrasies? Airport/airplane annoyances?

Feeling Good

2011-05-11T09:51:00.000-06:00

Isn't it amazing the power music has to change your mood? I heard this song this morning, and I was instantly happier and more energetic {Jimmy Eat World often has that effect on me though}.

So, I thought I'd share in case anyone else needed a bit of a boost today. Rock on, my friends.

Favorite Aunt Strikes Again!

2011-05-05T10:48:00.000-06:00

Don't tell them because they may not know it yet, but in a week, I get to go see these sweet girls.

I don't know if I'll be able to stand the wait.

It Has to Be Said

2011-05-03T09:31:00.000-06:00

Okay. The wedding hoopla.

It appears to be dying down a little, so I figure I can finally put this out there . . .

What in the world does the Queen keep in that handbag?!

And Soon It Will End

2011-04-28T10:33:00.000-06:00

I may have wet my pants with excitement {and teared up a bit} while I watched this. But how can you not?

National Poetry Month - #4

2011-04-26T12:12:00.000-06:00

I don't have much to say about this poet, except that if you don't like him or don't consider him a poet, than you really are a silly gumple knackersnook who should hebble to the pappup memmlywoot. He was truly a masterful wordsmith.

I still love reading his works out loud. They're fun; they're creative; and they make me happy.

Excerpts from Dr. Seuss

You're a monster, Mr. Grinch,
Your heart's an empty hole,
Your brain is full of spiders, you have garlic in your soul, Mr. Grinch,
I wouldn't touch you with a thirty-nine-and-a-half foot pole!
~~
How did it get so late so soon?
It’s night before it’s afternoon.
December is here before it’s June.
My goodness how the time has flewn.
How did it get so late so soon?
~~
I have heard there are troubles of more than one kind.
Some come from ahead and some come from behind.
But I’ve bought a big bat. I’m all ready you see.
Now my troubles are going to have troubles with me!
~~

KJB

2011-04-21T10:23:00.000-06:00

I heard a cool story on NPR about the King James Bible a couple of days ago and thought I would share. It's always cool to hear scriptures talked about in the media in a positive way. Plus, there's a very brief mention of Mormons. Pretty sweet.

National Poetry Month - #3

2011-04-20T08:59:00.000-06:00

I don't know much about this post's poet, James W. Hall. I do know that in addition to poetry he has had essays and novels published. But that's about it.

The poem I want to share was sent to me back when I was teaching. Someone in my district sent out a daily poem in April, and I really liked this one. But to be frank, I still have a hard time explaining why. It's not necessarily a pretty poem. The visuals created aren't pleasant. And I don't have a personal experience that really ties me to it. But every time I read it, I enjoy it.

And to me, that's part of what makes poetry wonderful. I don't have to be able to explain why I like it or why I think it deserves to be shared {at least now that I'm out of school, I don't. Ha!}. My experience with the poem is mine.

So now I invite you to have your own experience. And I'm curious to find out if you like it or not and can express why in better terms than I can. If you feel so inclined, leave me a comment after you read it.

White Trash
by James W. Hall

Now it's styrofoam pellets
that blow across the yard.
They settle in the new grass
like the eggs of Japanese toys.
It's a kind of modern snowing.

The boy next door opened a box,
took out the precious present
and shook these white spun plastic
droplets into the wind.
It's how his family thinks.

Hundred of them. Shaped like
unlucky fetuses or the brains
of TV stars.
Now they burrow in the lawn,
defy the rake, wriggle like the toes
of the shallow buried.

They'll be there when we're gone.
Bright tumors, rooted in the dark.
Crowding the dirt. Nothing makes them
grow. But nothing kills them either.

An Intriguing Mix - Redux

2011-04-18T09:02:00.000-06:00

I found out what happened.

Melted my popsicle. Seriously. Could he be hotter? Oh, and he did some pretty awesome fighting.

Kind of scared me a little. Maybe a lot. But not nearly as much as the guy below did.

Seriously. Yikes. I'll never be able to hear "It's the Sandman" again without shuddering.

Blew my mind. She's incredible. Can't wait to see more from her.

National Poetry Month - #2

2011-04-13T12:03:00.001-06:00

It's well-known that William Carlos Williams was a doctor and a poet. He actually started writing poetry when he was young, before he decided to study medicine, but continued with it throughout his life. And I think that's part of the reason I admire him and his work. He didn't allow himself to get pigeon-holed into the role of Doctor or Poet, and that gives me hope that, while I may do other things, I can still be a poet or an inventor or whatever.

I've always loved the sparseness of his poems because it takes you right to the heart of what he wanted to express. And while I enjoy much of his work, I have a soft spot in my heart for 'Landscape with the Fall of Icarus' since it was written as Williams' response to Brueghel's painting based on a Greek myth. I love when multiple media can come together.

Landscape with the Fall of Icarus
by William Carlos Williams

According to Brueghel
when Icarus fell
it was spring

a farmer was ploughing
his field
the whole pageantry

of the year was
awake tingling
near

the edge of the sea
concerned
with itself

sweating in the sun
that melted
the wings' wax

unsignificantly
off the coast
there was

a splash quite unnoticed
this was
Icarus drowning

{Click to enlarge}

Historic LOLs

2011-04-07T08:37:00.000-06:00

Is it wrong that I find these incredibly amusing?

It's Coming! It's Really Coming!!

2011-04-05T08:23:00.000-06:00

This is the kind of news that makes my morning:

Movie Trailers - Movies Blog

For more details, go here.

National Poetry Month - #1

2011-04-04T12:29:00.000-06:00

There are a couple things I miss about teaching, like funny things students say, summers off, and getting to teach poetry during national poetry month. So since I don't have a classroom this year to share some of what I love with students, I'm going to force it on you, dear readers.

I'd like to share some poems that I love or have just discovered and love. I'm beginning with a poet I've enjoyed for a few years, Sara Teasdale. Her poems usually deal with love {or the lack of love} and have a very classical yet melancholy feel to them. If you're feeling sad or wistful or introspective, her poems make lovely companions.

Longing
by Sara Teasdale

I am not sorry for my soul
That it must go unsatisfied,
For it can live a thousand times,
Eternity is deep and wide.

I am not sorry for my soul,
But oh, my body that must go
Back to a little drift of dust
Without the joy it longed to know.

Buried Love
by Sara Teasdale

I shall bury my weary Love
Beneath a tree,
In the forest tall and black
Where none can see.

I shall put no flowers at his head,
Nor stone at his feet,
For the mouth I loved so much
Was bittersweet.

I shall go no more to his grave,
For the woods are cold.
I shall gather as much of joy
As my hands can hold.

I shall stay all day in the sun
Where the wide winds blow,
But oh, I shall weep at night
When none will know.

The First Celebration

2011-03-30T14:06:00.000-06:00

It all started with cake.

And a bald head and groovy pants, but I don't have to keep everything the same.

Thankfully, I'm old enough now to pick and choose.

A Reminder

2011-03-30T10:29:00.000-06:00

A good reminder for me on my birthday:

Bah!! Gah!! Uhhh!!!

2011-03-27T17:23:00.000-06:00

Please pardon my temporary speechlessness. Matthew Macfadyen in period dress has that effect on me.

And apparently there are some other guys in this movie, too.

The Latest Diet

2011-03-25T13:11:00.000-06:00

Just today I discovered what I believe will be the newest diet trend to sweep the nation. I'm going to call it the "3 Year-Old Diet." I came up with the idea during lunch with my brother, sister and three of my nephews. I got to sit by the 3 year-old, Tall. He had a corndog and french fries. On about every fifth fry, he would let me have a bite. I wasn't really hungry, so this was the perfect portion for me.

As my sister and I were leaving and discussing Tall's lunch sharing further, we realized that this could be the perfect diet. A 3 year-old will share {usually} but not everything. If dessert was involved, I'd never get any. But I could probably eat all the vegetables I wanted. And I don't know anyone more adament than a 3 year-old in telling you 'No!' if you ask for more of something they don't want you to have. The exercise portion could include having tickle fights after every meal.

Seriously, the pounds would just melt right off.

I've Been Shot Through the Heart

2011-03-23T10:00:00.002-06:00

Remember when Jon Bon Jovi was all

And now he's all

Yeah, I know. I still love him, too.

P.S. The concert was beyond awesome. Bon Jovi for life.

Green and Luck and Blah Blah Blah

2011-03-17T08:51:00.001-06:00

Thoughts on St. Patrick's Day:

Why is there not a traditional sweet treat associated with St. Patrick's Day like there is with every other holiday? I feel we're missing out on something here.
11 years ago today I was in Dublin watching drunk 12 year olds puking in a park. I've prefered taking my St. Patrick's Days in the good ol' non-pre-teen drinking USA since then.
Why is it that there are adults who feel the need to pinch other adults today if they're not wearning green? I mean, really? Isn't the official cut-off in, like, 4th grade?
Does anyone else always think of Harrison Ford today because of that part in "The Fugitive" where he ducks into the St. Patrick's Day parade to hide from Tommy Lee Jones' character? Or is that just me?

One of my goals is to get this little fella dressed up as a leprechaun one year. Then I will take him around and charge people to take pictures with him. You know it will be a hit.

For the Win

2011-03-16T16:38:00.000-06:00

If you have not had the chance of checking out the new Tumblr devoted to Kate Middleton, you must. Oh, you must.

Forget That Nonsense, Let's Focus On Important Stuff

2011-03-16T10:03:00.000-06:00

All day yesterday I thought about posting something about The Bachelor finale {yes, I watch The Bachelor - no apologies}, but I couldn't find anything worth saying because, hello, it's The Bachelor.

So instead, I decided to share something most definitely worthy of my time and attention - Matt Damon. I saw "The Adjustment Bureau" over the weekend, and meh. But it just confirmed for me that I would watch Matt Damon do math problems for 2 hours if he let me.

Also, we are officially more than halfway into the Month of Marie {you didn't forget about that, did you?}. What non-Matt Damon happiness could {or would} you send my way to help celebrate?

2011 Ludicrous Academy Awards

2011-03-07T20:28:00.000-07:00

The 5th annual Ludicrous Academy Awards were held this past weekend. And they were fantastic - and not just because I took home 2 awards. We came. We partied. And we looked fabulous doing it.

Who Needs More Play?

2011-03-07T14:43:00.002-07:00

Have you ever forgetten about people, real or not, who you've had crushes on? Well, I was reminded recently of how I had a huge crush on Fritz in "Swiss Family Robinson." Not the actor who played Fritz, but Fritz himself. How could I have forgotten about him? And I feel pretty confident in assuming that I wasn't the only one, right?

He definitely deserves some more play, so here's the famous anaconda attack scene from the film where he and Ernst fight off the anaconda while Roberta sits around being useless.

So, did anyone share this childhood crush with me? And is there someone else who needs more play?

Whoa. This will never happen to me.

2011-03-04T10:41:00.000-07:00

My dad is pretty cool. He sings funny songs. He knows how to dress well. And he's got me for a daughter.

One thing that really makes him cool is that he's a leap year baby. Thus, he only gets a real birthday every 4 years, so he kind of has two different ages. This year he turned 17 and 3/4, but at the same time he's 71. 17 - 71 -17 -71.

Am I the only one who's amazed by this?

I told you my dad is cool.

More Aunt Fun

2011-03-04T10:36:00.000-07:00

My brother had me, and some other great people, over for dinner last night, including these cuties

{probably because they live with him}:

And although they weren't on the menu, all I really wanted for dinner was to nibble the cheeks shown above.

But amazingly enough, I refrained.

Oscars Review 2011

2011-02-28T09:35:00.001-07:00

Did we all survive the Oscars? As much as I enjoy {parts of} the Oscars, I am very glad for recorded television, which allows me to fast forward through all the bits that are boring {about 75% of the show}.

So, the young and hip hosts? I thought Anne Hathway was trying way too hard. It was actually painful to watch her through the whole broadcast. And I thought James Franco had his moments, but sometimes he looked like he really didn't want to be there. I liked the surprise of Billy Crystal, but I was sad by how old he looks. There were a couple of laugh out-loud moments {the auto-tuned musicals was a good one}, but overall meh. I got to see Colin Firth win {and be charming as he did so} and catch a Footloose and Kevin Bacon reference, so that's good enough for me.

Now for the important stuff - the clothes. I wasn't blown away by anything this year, but there were a handful of good gowns. The main trend seemed to be sparkle, with some ladies going for sparkle paired with a nude hue. Some of my favorite looks were Sandra Bullock, Amy Adams, Cate Blanchett {a definite fashion risk but I liked it}, and Hailee Steinfeld. I also liked Florence Welch's performance gown. Anne Hathaway had an excuse for wearing multiple gowns, but I only really liked the gold beaded one. As for the fellas, Justin Timerlake rocked his tux {of course}, and I thought Andrew Garfield pulled out an old-school Hollywood look that was very nice.

My top three favorites are below, starting with my number one pick {please note that I borrowed all pictures from Just Jared's site}:

1) Michelle Williams - I love clean lines and simplicity. She sparkles without going overboard. I thought Michelle's dress was gorgeous, as was her overall look. She may not have gotten the statuette, but she looked incredible.

2) Natalie Portman - It cannot be easy to find a great gown, but then to try to find one you can wear while pregnant? Because of her choice for the Golden Globes, I was worried about what Natalie would wear. But I think she looked beautiful in a gown with a rich color and simple but elegant details.

3) Helen Mirren - Once again, Dame Helen shows us younger gals how it's done. This dress is stunning and simple. The color is perfect, neither dated nor trendy. The accessories finish the look beautifully. My only complaint are the sleeves. They're not horrible, but a little less poof would have been better in my opinion.

Your thoughts? Did I miss anyone you thought looked worthy of a mention?

A Regular Night Being the Favorite Aunt

2011-02-26T18:26:00.001-07:00

And I couldn't love it more. Or them.

Marie - A Study by Dude

2011-02-26T18:22:00.000-07:00

For a 5 year old, I think he has real potential.

Friday Thoughts

2011-02-25T16:40:00.000-07:00

I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I have no good excuse for not posting for 2 weeks. I'm sorry. But I also don't have much to share today, so I'll just leave you with some random Friday thoughts:

Super excited for the Oscars this weekend - James Franco as a {hopefully} funny and charming host, {most assuredly}an adorable acceptance speech by Colin Firth and plenty of gown-gazing. It will be lovely.
Some day I will be brave enough to shave my head. But not today.
I always say that kindness is the best trait people can have, but sometimes I wonder if I'm too kind. Hard to explain, but I think I need to be a bit more abrasive sometimes.
Pretty sure I'm going to party with Youngest Sister and her family sometime soon. Yeah for that!
I had a super awesome friend surprise me this week with a visit to my office with a yummy treat for me. Made my day.
My friends' Oscars party is next weekend, and I have a divine gown and gloves to wear {don't worry - I'll share picures}. Now I just need to nail down hair and make-up. So excited.
Lucas North {aka - Richard Armitage on MI-5} has reentered my life. And I am so enjoying it.
I get to have dinner tonight with some great friends who I've known for a long time but don't get to see very often. I think it's a great way to kick off my weekend.

Enjoy your weekend, all.

My Odd Relationship

2011-02-14T09:23:00.001-07:00

I know I've said in a previous post that I'm not always a fan of Valentine's Day. It has nothing to do with a horrible man who's broken my heart or never having anything good happen. As a kid, I loved Valentine's Day. It meant having a party at school with candy and treats and delivering cards to everyone in their wonderfully decorated shoeboxes. Heck, one year I even got a card from Ryan Stuetzer! Yeah, he was the hot item in 4th grade.

And even as an adult, I've been able to have fun on this holiday. I kind of had a boyfriend one year {we had just started dating}. He gave me flowers and jewelry! It was so nice.

But. I have had enough odd experiences with Valentine's Day to make me not love it as much as say Halloween. Or Flag Day. Why is that you ask? Well, I've compiled some evidence to help you understand. Read on to find out.

#1 - My freshman year at college was my first Valentine's Day away from home. It really wasn't a big deal to me, but my sweet mom wanted to make sure I felt some love that day. So, she put together a little package of treats for me to enjoy. I don't remember what was included exactly - some candy, a card - but I do remember the little stuffed animal. It was a monkey about the size of your hand that would squeal and squawk when you pushed its belly. Pretty cute. Until I noticed the tag that said "For Your Pet." Yep, that's right. My mom had sent me a dog toy for Valentines. I'm sure she had no idea, but I'll never forget it.

#2 - My semester in England was my first Valentine's Day outside of the country. That weekend happened to coincide with our family stays. Our university asked local families to sponsor a student or two for a weekend so that we could get a feel of real British family life. I went to Portsmouth with my friend Kirsten, and we stayed with the nicest couple who had married later in life and had no children, just a couple of cats. The day we left happened to be Valentine's Day, so we sort of combined our thank you gift with a Valentine's present. This adorable couple also presented us with a Valentine's gift. It was so unexpected and so sweet that we were very touched. And then we opened the card - "Love, Muffin and Mr. Darcy." That's right. The gift was not from the cute couple but from their cats.

#3 - My first Valentine's Day when I got asked out on a Valentine's date was not quite what I'd expected it to be. A couple of years ago I came home with my roommate from a day of shopping and/or other fun. My next-door neighbor greeted us as we got out of the car and said she had something for me that had been left by a visitor. It was some homemade contruction paper hearts and some food. Together the hearts awkwardly proclaimed some interest in me and asked me out for Valentine's Day {via some check boxes - Yes or No}. The food was an old red apple and a can of Mountain Dew Code Red. Looking at all of it, my first thought was that some 12 year old boy had developed a crush on me. Nope. It was all from a gentleman in the neighborhood who was at least 10 years my senior. Yep. So, I promptly called the fellow, thanked him for the gift and told him no thank you. Then I got off the phone and did the 'Ick! Ick! Ick!' dance while my roommate laughed.

This year we're having a bake-off at work, and then I get to have some fun with some great friends. So, I think this will be a good year. But if I have another, well, odd one, I'll be sure to let you know.

Things That Make Your Heart Go 'Squee!' Part IV

2011-02-12T16:50:00.000-07:00

I just made one of the best discoveries ever - one of my favorite actors with one of the best voices ever {EVER!} reading my favorite sonnet. I experienced quite a Squee! listening to this.

Anyone who says poetry is not sexy has definitely not experienced it in the right way.

Things That Make Your Heart Go 'Squee!' Part III

2011-02-11T11:09:00.000-07:00

My all-time favorite movie ending is the very last part of "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" with Paul Newman and Elizabeth Taylor. I think it's romantic and sexy and wonderful and perfect. But alas, no one has uploaded it on YouTube, and I don't know how. Sigh.

So, you get something else wonderful instead. This is a lovely tribute video of Paul Newman, one of the best-looking men ever, showing clips of him from some of his movies. But as the creator of the video states, "Even though he co-starred with many beautiful women, he only had eyes for his wife of 50 yrs. Joanne." And so the only woman you'll see in these clips is her. And to me nothing makes my heart go 'Squee!' more than someone being true to and adoring me my whole life.

If you have never seen a Paul Newman movie, go right now and get one. Now. Seriously. I recommend the above mentioned, as well as "The Long Hot Summer" or "Cool Hand Luke."

So, readers, what are some of your favorite romantic movies, scenes, or fellas to look at? What makes your heart go 'Squee!'?

Things That Make Your Heart Go 'Squee!' Part II

2011-02-10T09:43:00.000-07:00

If I ever get the chance to really fall in love, I hope I get to do it in New York City. Partly because I am already in love with that city, but partly because so many great movies take place there. And they have all led me to believe that love is even better in the Big Apple.

Case in point - "When Harry Met Sally." I have come to enjoy this movie more and more through the years because a) it's super funny b) Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan are absolutely adorable together and c) they don't really fall in love until they've known each other for many years. As someone who's a bit *cough* older, I like the idea that I may already know the fella I'm going to end up with, but we just haven't realized it yet. I also like the idea, far-fetched as it may be, that he'll be as funny as Harry.

And how can you not love this ending?

I think the best part is him pointing out how he loves the weird/quirky things about her. Because, as another {not quite as good} movie points out, you "can't love people in slices."

Things That Make Your Heart Go 'Squee!'

2011-02-09T12:37:00.000-07:00

I am a romantic. I am not, however, always a fan of Valentines Day. But as that holiday is quickly approaching and romantic things are swirling all around, I felt inspired to share some of my favorite scenes from movies that involve romance/love/happiness/good-looking men.

Today's selection is a classic, in my humble opinion. I adore Audrey Hepburn {and really, what sort of heartless person doesn't?}, and "Breakfast at Tiffany's" is one of my favorite movies that she's in. A lot of people remember the movie for the wonderful clothes that she wears or the horribly, politically-incorrect portrayal of a Japanese man, but what I love about the movie is the ending. Holly, Audrey's character, spends the whole movie trying to get herself a wealthy man to take care of her, even though she falls in love with the poor writer, Paul {played beautifully by George Peppard}.

In this, the final scene, she's taking a cab, about to leave for South America to marry a rich man she doesn't love. She's trying to convince Paul {and herself} that she really doesn't need anyone {or anything - that's why she throws Cat out}. And then, we get this:

Swoon. Squee. I love it.

Stay tuned for more tomorrow.

Happy Birthday, JT

2011-01-31T12:05:00.000-07:00

Since my boyfriend, JT, is turning 30 today, I thought we could celebrate by watching him do what he does best. Which is everything.