2012 Edition of Primetime Emmys "Fashion Police"

It is that time of year, folks! I get to share with you the red carpet dresses that caught my eye on yet another award show. Granted, the Emmys positively STUNK this year...but it's too be expected. However, I find plenty of joy from the clothes.

Now, because I get in trouble almost every time I write such a post, here is my disclaimer: Because I like a dress doesn't mean I wholeheartedly approve of it for modesty's sake....or that I watch and approve of the actress's said show. I do enjoy fashion....I'm not ashamed of it. So, if this post offends you, and that is not my intention, then don't read it just to be safe.

So here we go: I'm going to do my dress picks in three different categories. First up is "The Ones I Love"

My best dressed is Anna Chlumsky (pictured above.) I love the look of a nude underlay and black, tiered lace. It's classy and yet subtly sexy. The "V" isn't too low either and I love the strappy shoes. Yes, I would totally wear this look myself. My only "improvement" would be in the accessories; do something that pops! But on the flip side, the black is timeless and timeless is good!

Ginnifer Goodwin always takes a risk and that continues with this Monique Lhullier number. I love seeing orange/tangerine on the red carpet. I don't recall it being done too much in the past, but I am seeing it more and more often....and I love it. The "high/low" hemline is unique and surprisingly, was on a handful of gowns this year. Now, I wish Ginny had better posture--I mean, she should be proud to be so different--but her pixie cut works with this gown as do the shoes....although I would ditch the ankle straps.

 Another example of the high/low hemline is in Ariel Winter (pictured left). I must say, I love the color palate of the dress and the fact that it has a train just adds something to the dress. If you are able to find a picture of it from the back....you should....it has these cool, razor straps...it adds a fun element to the dress. I'm also going to say that the dress is extremely  age appropriate for the Modern Family actress. Too often do young starlets dress older than their years. Personally, I don't believe that to be the case with this gown. The same goes for Sarah Hyland (pictured right), Ariel's costar...she is in a nude/blush down with fun lace-like detailing at the shoulders and bust line. But there isn't cleavage and makeup is not excessive. These two always do impress me with their fashion sense.

Seeing a star from a TV show I watch always gives me a smile. Emily Van Camp of Revenge looks sweet and demure which is vastly different from the character she plays on the hit ABC show (WHICH IS BACK ON SUNDAY!!!) Now, gray is definitely not my first choice for a dress color. After all, there are so many different wheels on the color palate that she could have gotten inspiration from..but still, I think she looks fabulous. Illusion necklines can be very hit and miss (as you will see in another post that sadly comes from an actress I love)

I will end this post with two of the Big Bang Theory gals, Melissa Rauch (in green) and Kaley Cuoco (in yellow) I have to admit, I am drawn to both of these gowns. The bright colors really stand out on the red carpet and they lean towards jewel-like tones. It seems like a good transition from summer into fall. I love both of the hairstyles being off to the side--it frames their faces well. I love the two-tone of Melissa's dress and the architectural design on Kaley's dress. If I had to pick which I liked best, Kaley does win because I love the loose braid. However, I am impressed with both. It's nice to see them out of their usual "work clothes"

So.....that's where we are at. And we have other dresses left to explore. I would love to hear what you have to say about this group of dresses. And up next are the "Dresses That Leave Me With a Lot to Say Or Think"

Yeah, it's a long title ;-)

Days

Every time I go to work on my blog, something comes up. I either get sidetracked by college classes, or a friend pops up on Facebook chat, or I have moments of writer's block. Regardless, life gets in the way. That doesn't mean that days are dull. In fact, they are anything but.

September 16th: Um...Downton Abbey Series 3 premiered on ITV in Britain...and yes, I tuned in. Unashamedly do I admit such things. It's all I can do to not give anything away, but so far, I felt Downton Abbey was back. Everything I loved about the show was on display on this episode. The entire time I watched it with a Cheshire Cat grin so I probably looked majorly stupid. Who cares! I got tired of caring a while ago.

September 23rd: It's the Emmys people!!! I love watching the show and seeing the gowns (so yes, a fashion post is coming up. You can take that to the bank.) Granted, I believe I can predict who will win Best Actor and Best Actress in a Drama Series, but oh well. There is still plenty to pique my interest. I do want to know what Downton Abbey was thinking going in the Drama category as opposed to the Miniseries category, but that isn't my problem.

September 24th: I love all my shows. I do. I really do. But one holds a special place in my heart.....and it returns with its 5th Season on ABC. Figured out which one it is yet?! CASTLE!!!!! Holy cow, am I excited for this show?!! In fact, there are no words.

September 28th: For the past several months, I have been on a committee at work for a mandatory "staff development day." What form that takes is entirely up to us. Hopefully, every presentation comes together as well as we expect. As to what my job was, I was in charge of food. We're doing a yogurt bar for breakfast, catering lunch, and then, I am make several different types of treats....no pressure, right?

September 30th: Once Upon a Time, Revenge, and The Amazing Race are back. Yep. Sunday nights will be a lot of fun.

Now....The Random Things That Don't Have Dates To Go With Them:
The Reviews I want to Write For You: Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, Jane Austen Book Club, Lost in Austen, Revenge, Friday Night Lights (TV Series)....I have plenty to keep me busy. I just need to do it.

How it's faring on the wedding front: In this case....no news is not good news. Pray that we get the dress situations for both bride and bridesmaids figured out. After all, the wedding is in about five months. Knowing what we are doing would be nice....especially for the bride.

So see, it's been slightly nuts around here. But I am alive. And well. Hope you all can say the same!

Overgrown Bushes

Their plumpness just begged to be picked. The color proved just how ripe they actually were. I could just imagine what the taste would be like....and even though I knew there weren't enough of them, the images of cobblers and pies came rushing through my mind.

However, there was one, huge problem standing in between me and those berries. Our blackberry bushes are more like blackberry brambles. The little vines that we first had when moving into our home seven years ago are now huge. The fact that they grow right up against the fence means that they impair a picker's reach and cut off the potential from picking berries at another angle. The thorns, oh the thorns are a whole different story. With branches that are jutting into the backyard where I can pick, branches that go this way and that way and every other possible way you can think of...one almost has to done battle gear to get three berries. If you want a pie, you might have to send in SWAT.

On this particular day, three individual berries seemed persistent in calling me. And I couldn't get to them. It drove me absolutely crazy. I stretched my arms as far as I could, trying to reach the berries without scratching my arms up. I couldn't get to them. I couldn't step closer because the thorns were already pricking into my legs. I realized that the berries were just not meant to be for me. I was disappointed to be sure....until the Lord revealed to me a little lesson to be learned through all of this.

In life, I will have plenty of "berry moments." There will be things that stand out to me as beautiful things, things that I want to either be a part of or experience or think would be profitable for me.And yet, there will be thorns that stand in my way, that serve as an impasse from me reaching them. What I realized is that sometimes, those thorns are good things. God uses us in our lives to protect us from certain things. Not because they are bad, but more because they are not for this season of our lives.

Those blackberries gave every appearance of being a good thing. A great thing. But I wasn't supposed to have them on the particular day that I wanted them. Who knows....maybe they were bad. Or it could have been because dinner was ten minutes from being on the table and I didn't need my appetite spoiled (and I have a goofy stomach to begin with) The point was that God knew why I wasn't supposed to have those blackberries. He just didn't want them on my plate now.

In life, we have so many things that clamor for our attention and so many of them are good and profitable things! However, sometimes, we aren't supposed to add additional things onto our plate. I know in my own life, I have had to make choices about what I should be doing. Between work, school, writing for an online magazine, teaching Sunday School...I don't need to add an additional night out onto my plate...right now. Maybe one day my "bushes" will be "pruned" enough so I can do something effectively. Just like how one day, my actual blackberry bushes will be pruned and I can reach the fruit when the time is right and when I don't scrape my legs too bad.

I'm trying to resolve something: to not look at the apparent roadblocks in my life as setbacks. They are for a reason. They are learning experiences, even if for nothing more than God telling me to "be still" (and he knows I won't necessarily unless there is something standing in my way). My life is filled with fruit as it is and on other days, it will be filled with more. At the right time. 

Downton, Downton, Downton!

I pride myself on being a rule follower. I'm one of those people who cannot stand when people snipe songs off of the internet or steal songs off of library CDs. As much as I  would like to, I can't bring myself to do so.....

Until I come to Downton. I know it doesn't hit US airways and Masterpiece Theater until January, 2013, but it airs over in the United Kingdom this Sunday.....and I watch it then. I'm forever grateful to the person who told me away around little things like IP addresses.....because when it comes to Downton, I have zero patience. I must watch!

I decided, in the midst of all of the posts I am working on, to do a post all related to Downton Abbey. Granted, I doubt you will find anything new; it's all been recycled via other blogs and websites. Still, it would be fun to generate such discussions on my little space of the internet.

First we have the trailers!




My thoughts and observations on this viewing:
1.) I think the "wedding" we have heard so much about it Edith and Sir Anthony......we had better not get jipped out of Matthew and Mary
2.) Ethel (why is she back) has turned to prostitution....
3.) I cannot wait for the fireworks between Shirley MacLaine and Maggie Smith
4.) Branson has a very, very special place in my heart and it looks like he will be a BIG deal as we move forward

Now we have this fun interview!

Add in some random pictures ;-)

 Unfortunately, because of Downton Abbey's move into the Dramatic category at the Emmy's, I do not see it winning many of the awards for which it is nominated (because as I can see it, Claire Danes has it locked up against Michelle Dockery and Bryan Cranston against Hugh Bonneville) However, its best chance is going to be in the Best Supporting Actress category.....I will be rooting for DA like crazy. I just don't have high expectations going in.

So I want to hear from you, get the ball rolling so to speak. What would YOU like to see happen in Season 3? What do you think WILL happen? And will you watch before January? ;-)

Absolute Contentment

When one is in the midst of wedding planning with one of your closest friends, one is apt to do a lot of thinking. You think about bridesmaid dresses--and whether or not you really like the one the bride picked. You encourage her about finding a venue and you hit "like" when her engagement photos are up on Facebook. You put her first name with her fiancee's last name and you realize just how perfectly it all fits together. You find yourself praising the Lord for writing such a beautiful love story for your dear friend.....and all of a sudden, you are made aware that there is not a bit of envy in your heart.

My social network sites have found so many people in my life--both current as well as removed--entering into either relationships or marriage. It has made me so very happy to see, especially where some are concerned. I'm a hopeless romantic; I always have been and I always will be. I'm the girl who gets giddy when my movies end in kissing scenes (I'm serious--who cares if it is "Wives and Daughters" and "Downton Abbey" or "The Wedding Planner"--they still make me sigh). I'm the girl who "ships" character pairings on my favorite TV shows. I love looking at engagement photos and my Pinterest board is up to 160 pins. I have so many ideas and the six different wedding shows I watch don't help in keeping that number low.

So, when I say that I am surprised by how I am not in the least bit envious of my friend who, in January, will be marrying her Prince Charming, trust me, I take myself by surprise. I was the girl who up until recently possessed a list of all the things my husband *had* to be. Several were important (and ones that still matter to me)....others were, frankly, either legalistic and/or stupid. I was the girl who thought marriage was my "be all, end all" and that my life wouldn't start until my name was joined with some other guy. But right now, I am filled with contentment for life as it stands right now. I have such a peace that passes all understanding--one that comes from Christ and Him alone.

Don't get me wrong, I am hopeful for the day when I have my own wedding planning to do. I look forward to taking pictures like the ones I see on Pinterest. And I look forward to having a mashed potato bar at my reception......but for now, I'm to be that lady in waiting. I don't just sit by, though, doing nothing, pining away in a corner. I work. I write. I do my college studies. I work with little kiddos at church. I try to become the sister, the daughter, the friend that Christ wants me to be. It's my full time job right now.

I know that my future husband is, hopefully, in much the same boat that I am. And so, I pray for him every day. He is very much a part of my life. But I don't just pray for him--I pray for all of my single friend's spouses. We are all in this together after all! And we all have a choice about how we handle these "single years" (as much as I dislike the term, due to its tendency for over-usage, it is what these years are called.) I can either sit around and be unhappy about not sending wedding invitations....or I can trust in what the Lord told me about one day getting my turn and instead, I can focus on other people's happiness. One day and only God knows when I will share with my future husband the letters I have written to Him....and it will be at the best time. Which isn't now.

The twinges do come as the inevitably will. But currently, I have not had one of my despairing meltdowns where all I want are tissues and ice cream in which to drown my sorrows.(Yes, I do have those.) God has, for the time being, taken those tendencies away. I'm immensely thankful to Him for that! So thankful. I never thought I would be going through this time without tears and thinking about myself. I thought that whenever the time would come, I would be wanting my wedding even more than my friend's. I thought I would be jealous. But I'm not.

So I write this for all who are might mind themselves in much the same boat as I am. You're not alone. I understand what you are going through--this single stuff. It can be painful. It can be messy. It can be rewarding. It is a constant challenge between contentment and self-pity. It definitely sums up "life", doesn't it? I'm just thankful knowing that I serve a God who blesses us in ways we never thought we could be open to....and that there are others out there who walk the same road.

Your Prince Charming is out there--somewhere. Believe it! =)

This Means War--A Movie Review

Title: This Means War (2012)
Starring: Reese Witherspoon, Chris Pine, Tom Hardy, Chelsea Handler
Rating: PG-13
My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

What happens when you screw up on a major CIA assignment? You get "desk duty" that's what! And alas, that is the problem for FDR Foster (Chris Pine) and Tuck Hansen (Tom Hardy). On a mission that was supposed to be undercover, FDR and Tuck utterly and completely make their presence known--and only "killed" one of their targets. The other has made it his vendetta to avenge his brother's death...and he will do anything and everything to track FDR and Tuck down.

Meanwhile, you have Lauren Scott (Reese Witherspoon), a product tester who is struggling to get over her previous break-up. Her best friend, Trish, (Chelsea Handler) has signed her up for an online dating service, much to Lauren's chagrin. However, she ends up following through on a date--one that just so happens to be with Tuck. All goes well and after the date, Lauren just so happens to meet FDR. THAT goes well too. Too well.

One day at work, FDR and Tuck discover that they are dating the same girl. They vow to not interfere in each other's relationships--or tell her that they are friends or know about the other--and they also vow not to take things too far. However, we're talking about two guys and a girl with the ability for all kind of spying. This means war!

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I have toyed for quite a while about seeing this movie. I remember by the commercials that it looked absolutely hilarious and kind of cute.....but I also had concerns because of Chelsea Handler. By the time the credits rolled, I had much the same thoughts as I did before I sat down and viewed the film. I enjoyed Reese Witherspoon in "Sweet Home Alabama" and Chris Pine in "Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement" (yep. He was in that ;-)), so seeing the two of them in a film together was kind of adorable. I think the entire cast played well off of each other, which is something that you always like to say about a film. I found plenty to laugh about as well opportunities in which to talk to the screen. I do that, you know?

However, I do have some issues with this movie. How can I say this?......Both guys had moments where they came off as jerks. I wasn't sure if I wanted Lauren with either Tuck or FDR. The best line Chelsea Handler says in the entire movie is about "choosing a guy at the end of the day that makes you a better person." It's kind of hard to figure out why Lauren does pick the guy that she does. I never saw any indication that that was the best guy for her. Granted, I *liked* him and his character did evolve, but not as much as I would have liked.

And then.....there is the content. Several of my friends have watched this movie with ClearPlay, so their reviews might be better to follow than mine. As Rissi said, it was a lot classier than I thought it would be.  And it was. However, I would love to get rid of Chelsea Handler's character from the entire movie. It is her parts that you have to be wary of. You might be best advised to watch the entire movie with a remote close at hand--and then fast forward every time she is on the screen. I mean, we have innuendo, foreplay, etc. And then...yes, there is more....Reese Witherspoon's character doesn't care about sleeping with both guys to see which one she is more compatible with. Well, she does it with FDR and almost gets that far with Tuck. So yeah, those moments could be skipped to. There are some profanities as well.

But you know what, in spite of all this, I liked the film. A lot. I smiled and laughed and ultimately, I was happy with the outcome. It just has a few hiccups in getting to that point though. So, if you do watch it...two things: Go in with both eyes open and then, let me know what you think of it.

I Made A Big Deal About This?!

Recently, I went on a closet purge. In fact, I had been needing to do it for a while, but I kept on procrastinating. Sure I had boxes that I needed to go through to make room for my shoes...but I could just work around them. Finally, upon getting a rack for my white wedges and my nude peep-toe pumps, I had incentive to go through those boxes.

It was a combination of both a treasure trove and a junk drawer. I came across the porcelain dolls that I had loved so much when I was little--gifts from my grandmother and sweet, old ladies from church. I found receipts and catalogs from 2005....why they had been kept, I have no idea? Guess I didn't want to go out of my way to find a trashcan =) I also found the latch hook rug project that I had started when I was seven and never finished....and then, there they were. Trophies and medals were in the bottom of a trunk.

You have to understand something. When I was younger, these trophies and medals meant EVERYTHING to me. I strove to be the best at anything and everything. I wanted the Teacher's Award, which was given to the best all around student. I wanted Principal's List medals; those were given to the students who had straight "A's" all four quarters. (Honor Roll wasn't enough for me) I will never forget the day (and we have home video to prove it) of when I was given a medal and it said Honor Roll on it.....oh my word, you could see how ticked off I was. I wasn't getting recognized enough. After all the blood, sweat, and tears--as well as the throwing up every night because of stress to get the best grades--I thought that accolades and accouterments were the be all, end all. I went through a period where I about destroyed my health (and I was eight at the time to make it sound even worse), so much so that Mom and Dad began homeschooling me and my brother. I can honestly say that I don't know if I would be alive today if they hadn't.

God has taken me on a wild, humbling ride since those days. I had to get some of my pride and my perfectionism taken out of me. I needed to realize that a trophy or recognition wasn't worth killing myself. I thought that by having a trophy or some other tangible symbol of my success, I would somehow be perceived as better or best by others. I mean, we live in a society where we aim for top success and we "forget" about second or third place. I even admit that I am more inclined to remember who won the gold medal in a competition or who took home the Best Actor award than who were the runners-up. We as a nation are wrapped up in having unimportant things define us.

And yet, notice my trophies remained in the box...and I was okay. I didn't feel less of a person because they weren't on display. I had made such a big deal about achieving this recognition and yet, while all these years later I am happy that I did, I can't help but shake my head. Why did I make such a big deal over this little trophy? It doesn't even look that great! All it does is either collect dust or stay in a box as it has for over eight years now! Why did I think that defined me as a student, as a daughter, as a sister, as a person.......it didn't.

The Lord has reminded me that stuff is stuff. It doesn't define us. Now, that isn't to say that we should dress nicely so we can be defined as polished. Or that we shouldn't try to aim for our full potential. What we should always remember though is that our character defines us, our faith defines us, our speech defines us. In the end, this will always have a legacy that lasts longer than any trophy in the world. Those lose their luster, but a person who is known for having a caring heart and a smile that lights up the room.....that is oftentimes remembered longer.

First Time A Bridesmaid

Every girl dreams of being in a wedding--or maybe I am just speaking for myself. My Pinterest board is proof positive that I often have wedding ideas on the brain =) However, it doesn't always have to be my wedding that I so plan. I get quite excited about the prospect of other girlfriends' weddings.

I have also grown up with the belief that God is in the business of creating beautiful life stories--and those often have chapters of beautiful love stories. I love watching seeing the Lord bring two people together in an amazing way, where you know that those two are just perfect for each other.

The blog has sadly been silent because I was hoping/planning to be on vacation. The plan was to spend a wonderful week down in Alabama with some girlfriends, followed by a weekend at a beach house on the Gulf of Mexico. It was going to be lovely.....but it fell through six hours before I would have to get up for the airport. However, I can see know why the Lord intended for it to fall through. He always does have a better plan for our days than we do. And he definitely knows all =)

It was such a joy when I found out that the dear friend I was going to see was instead engaged to be married. In the six years that we had been friends, this had been one of the things that we had prayed for. And here it was--God had blessed her with her Prince Charming. He wrote a story that was beautifully unique to them; it is one that makes me smile. Add to that the knowledge that if I had indeed been able to go on vacation a week or so ago, I would have used up all of my vacation time--and I would not be able to attend her wedding. And add to that the vacation days I do have and the formal invitation to be a bridesmaid....I am smiling a lot around here!

I won't be posting wedding tidbits around my blog, but I did have to communicate joy! I am excited to be a bridesmaid for the first time--although I do hope that I never get into that "three times a bridesmaid, never a bride" territory ;-) I am excited to be able to stand up with one of my dearest friends on one of the happiest days of her life. I am excited to wear a dress (which will not look anything like 27 Dresses) and have yet another "excuse" to buy a pair of brown heels (and hey, I can get wear out of them besides a wedding) It's going to be a fun few months!

But now that I know I will not be on vacation, at least until January, I will be able to blog away to my heart's content....and who knows, I might be reviewing a lot of wedding movies =) If I do, what are some of the ones you would like to know my thoughts on? =D

Miss Congeniality (2000)--A Movie Review

Title: Miss Congeniality
Starring: Sandra Bullock, Michael Caine, Benjamin Bratt, Candice Bergen, William Shatner, Ernie Hudson
Rating: PG-13
My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 Stars

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Special Agent Gracie Hart (Sandra Bullock) is a bit of a loner. Her propensity for not entirely following orders gets her in a bit of trouble. In fact, her boss (Ernie Hudson) has sidelined her from a high profile case due to her messing up in the field on a previous take down. However, fellow agent Eric Matthews (Benjamin Bratt) feels as if Gracie will be an asset in figuring out what the Citizen's (a domestic terrorist) next target is. A cryptic note is sent to the FBI and the objective is to figure out the target and fast, especially considering the Citizen's track record.

The target is deciphered as the Miss United States Pageant. However, when Matthews and Hart take this news to pageant director Kathy Morningside (Candice Bergen), she just doesn't buy it. Kathy doesn't believe someone undercover is necessary--or even heightened security--but that is the FBI's next plan of action. To have the best access, someone has to go undercover and a computer says Gracie would be the best person for the job.

However, Gracie Hart could be the homeliest and sloppiest the FBI has ever produced--with an annoying snort-laugh to boot. It's going to take the work of a great beauty pageant coach, Victor Melling (Michael Caine) to straighten the hair, teach her to walk, how to talk, and make her undercover job realistic. Because as it stands right now, Gracie Hart wouldn't be chosen in a state pageant, let alone get to the top 10 of the national pageant.

But Gracie Lou Frebush of New Jersey is born and into the world of pageantry and dresses, hair spray and enhancements she goes. However, along the way she meets gals from the other forty-nine states who are unlike what she thought beauty queens to be. She actually becomes friends with one of them. But it isn't all fun and games--who is the Citizen? And why is he choosing to attack a pageant of all things?

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I have never had any desire to be in the world of beauty pageants. The idea of parading around in a bikini, answering politically correct questions, and being judged on how tall I am or how perfect a body I have doesn't exactly appeal to me =) I know you get scholarship money and everything, but still...I will stick to watching "Miss Congeniality" when I need my pageant fix.

I think this is one of the movies that endeared Sandra Bullock to a lot of people. She absolutely is the star of this film. She plays the "ugly" duckling and her transition to being a pretty princess in such a realistic and comical way. I just love her in this film. However, I think Michael Caine is the scene stealer. His beauty times, his annoyances with Gracie, his giving her celery instead of letting her eat doughnuts--it's all brilliant. Candice Bergen plays a villain quite convincingly (I am yet to see this woman in a nice role) I also love all of the contestants that we get "to know." That being said, Texas is so stereotyped with that accent. Goodness.

The content does consist of some sexual humor and/or comments. No scenes, thank goodness, but I could do without the jokes about enhancing chest sizes. However, while there are problems with the sexual dialogue and bad language (including one usage of the Lord's name in vain quite badly), the content is not as bad as I thought upon watching it when I was younger. Could be because I just "accept" certain elements or it could be because I watched it during the height of some legalism....who knows.

It's not a movie that is going to win any awards, but still, it is an enjoyable way to spend two hours of a day. It's the kind of film where I want to have a facial and some popcorn and some girlfriends around. "Miss Congeniality" also has some good qualities to impart--the biggest being how Gracie learns to accept and show love to all types of people--even those who come in model size packages. And it doesn't hurt for you to wear heels or do your hair every once and a while either. And always, it is "yes", never "yeah." ;-)

The Selection--A Book Review

Title: The Selection
Author: Kiera Cass
Published Date: 2012
My Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

America Singer has a choice before her, a choice that can change her future forever. All she would have to do is enter "the selection," a contest in which thirty-six girls compete for the love  of Crown Prince Maxon of Illyea. If chosen, America could elevate her position and become a One, the highest rank in society. Or America could stay a Five, the artist caste in which you barely have enough to eek out a living. However, if she were to stay at home, America could marry the love of her life, Aspen. Problem is, he is of a station below her and her mother, and society, doesn't take too highly to that. What is she to do?

Events cause America to enter her name into the selection, little thinking that she would be on of the thirty-six finalists...but she is. She is taken to the Capitol, given maids and new clothes, and surrounded by others competing for the love of Maxon. For America, that isn't her goal. She's only here because she has to be. And she wants to get out of the Capitol alive, which isn't an easy feat considering that the North AND the South are both trying to invade and take over. However, as time progresses, America develops a friendship with Maxon. And Aspen seems ever so far away. What live *is* America destined to live?

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I first heard about this book through Pinterest and then, Rissi reviewed it. A book that was dubbed a mash-up of "The Hunger Games" and "The Bachelor"....I mean, come on, this was something I had to read. However, even if I hadn't read it, I think the cover art would totally have tempted me. Yes, I am a sucker for fancy, couture dresses.

I believe that this series, of which The Selection is the first book of an expected trilogy, has tremendous potential. Indeed, there is a lot of room for the characters to grow and adapt. America bears a lot of similarities to Katniss Everdeen in that they are both young women who want something different out of life than what life has dubbed for them. They want to be able to move around if they so choose, marry who they might desire, etc. They also are heroines that live against a post apocalyptic backdrop of America. It's eerie in a way how spot on the demise of the United States is chronicled in The Selection. It could make actual sense =( However, in some ways I liked America more than Katniss in that I saw parallels to Elizabeth Bennett, Jane Austen's amazing heroine. How you might ask? Well, America isn't afraid to say what she thinks--just like Elizabeth and frankly, a little like myself sometimes.

As to "The Bachelor" comparisons, they are there in catty women, fancy dresses, "one on one dates" and "group dates." But no red roses or Chris Harrison (thank goodness =P)

Some have complained that the book is ill written; I disagree. It isn't Austen or Hawthorne, but it's a current teen read. Did one really expect something different. I believe that the book flows properly and to me, the dialogue isn't horribly stilted. There, yes, are moments where it slogs; you wish for it to have a little more action...but I believe that will come in future books. It's going to be a series that doesn't throw "punch after punch" like The Hunger Games and instead, it will progress naturally. However, I see a bunch of action coming in future books what with impending war and such.

I have heard/read that this book might become a series on the CW so as this book gets more and more popular, it is going to fall prey to the "which team are you on" question. Just like Team Edward and Team Jacob, Team Peeta or Team Gale--there will be Team Maxon or Team Aspen. And I think I am going to be on the minority side ;-) Ah well....I look forward to seeing how that progresses as well.

To those of you who have read the book, I look forward to hearing your thoughts about it!

Remembering the Painful Past--Part 1

I know where they are, what they still look like. There's the bright neon green and pink striped one; there is the light purple floral one. They are just underneath my bed. All I would have to do is reach down to my left and there the journals would be. My past would be easily remembered in no time at all.

My current college course is entitled "Composing Personal History" and a big chunk of it has involved reading through those journals again. Perhaps if I had known fully what the class would have entailed, I would have picked another method of getting those three credits. It has involved several seven to ten page papers (that's not the issue) of going back over where I have been. Not just in my personal life, but in my spiritual life as well. Thus, the journals have come out and the memories have returned.

To say it has occasionally been challenging would be an understatement.

My journals are one of those things that I consider deeply personal. In the seven years since I have begun keeping them, I can see the journey I have gone on in life. I have seen the struggles and sin issues that I have taken (sometimes over and over again) to God. I have seen the tear stained pages of coping with friends who have dumped me. There are the moments of thinking myself superior and then the times of being brought to my knees. I talk about my family's struggles with unemployment and all of my difficulties with church people. Like I said, they are personal and some of those memories, I really wish to not relive over and over again.

This class hasn't given me much of a choice in the matter. I have been made to understand and always remember that these moments, both good and bad, are deeply etched into the fibers of my being. They have been used by God to shape me into the person that writes before you today. Maybe I am the only one, but I most definitely have those times where I wish my life wasn't filled with such heartache and sorrow. I can look at other people and wish for their seemingly easier life. However, I have also been made to realize that every single human being goes through challenges. They might put on a facade, but the fact remains.

I am learning to always embrace those difficult times in my life. I believe that the Lord I serve has a reason and a point for everything. I have grown up with this philosophy and this college course has helped reiterate that to me, so to speak. If I don't remember where I have been--what God has taken me through--how can I ever expect to grow in my faith and be refined in my walk with Him? How can I not make the same mistakes? If I am not reminded of how human and sinful I am, I miss an opportunity to give God the glory. After all, it is only by HIS grace and strength that I have been given a new day and the ability to move on from the mistakes.

In an upcoming post, I will share with you just one of the ways in which the Lord has taught me this simple truth. For now, I leave you with this little thought--are you embracing your past? All of it? Are you willing to remember and relive pain for another chance at praising the Lord? And isn't it so much easier said than done?

Trust me, I am right there with you!

Latest Femnista Issue!

I know, I know, I'm behind the eight ball in sharing this news with you--but better late than never right?!

This issue looks positively fantastic. I had the honor to write about "Wicked!" (Although the book might not exactly be classified as an honor =) However, so many of my other fellow writers have written about fantastic topics. I cannot wait until I have the time to read them all.

I hope y'all enjoy this issue as much as we had putting it together. Coming up next is "Based on a True Story" followed by....HITCHCOCK!!! It's going to be fab =D

Click to launch the full edition in a new window
Publisher Software from YUDU

Sheer Randomness

Life has just been a little nuts around here lately. I have been working more hours thanks to a little thing called Summer Reading. I'm trying to do school and get a class finished by the end of the month. Family stuff is keeping me busy and preoccupied....anyone else ever have moments and days like these?

However, I do not want to have this blog sit idle for a few days....so I thought it was the perfect time to pull out the ol' "Link Love" type of posts. You get a glimpse into some of the places my brain has been this week.

*I have practically been stalking this website like a hawk since Saturday. And yes, I'm terrible--I cheat to know outcomes before they air on TV. I could go on and on and on about my thoughts and I will. Just not in this post =D

*Friends and I have been talking about Facebook about these recent photos from one little show called Downton Abbey. I wonder what they mean? ;-)

*When I saw these spoilers about the fifth season of a hit, amazing crime show, you had better believe I went a teeny bit nuts.

*I am headed here in about six days now =)

*I just picked up my own copy of this TV show (yes, I became a huge fan) and I am getting ready to finish up this one (and yes, I will post a review)

*I always find such encouragement from this Psalm

Now two videos for you:
First is a great Christian worship song by Point of Grace. It is so encouraging and wonderful!
As to the final video, well, it's making the rounds on the Web....and as much as I dislike the song (because I hear it EVERYWHERE and it is so stinking repetitive) I absolutely love the video itself. It cracks me up =) And it gets me even more in the Olympic spirit

Olympic Time!!!

Ever since I was six year old, I had this fascination with the Olympics. I have never been particularly sporty or athletic, but that didn't stop me from watching them. I remember watching the US Women's Gymnastics team taking home the gold medal in Atlanta, 1996. I got to see the Olympic torch on its way to the Salt Lake City winter games in 2002. I cheered as I watched Michael Phelps win eight gold medals in Bejing, 2008....and now, I get to do it all over again.

Once I found out that the 2012 Olympics were in London, I was beside myself. Seriously, if I wasn't a proud American, I would be an Englisher. From my love of Jane Austen, to being a total Kate Middleton fanatic, to a Downton Abbey super fan, to my love of tea and bone china.......to say I am into British things would be an understatement. If I were able to go to an Olympic games, these would be the ones I would want to go to.

All that to say is that I am super, duper, DUPER excited that the Opening Ceremonies are today!!!! Bob Costas coming into my home every evening, following the medal count, swelling with pride at how well our athletes do, listening to our National Anthem over and over again. It doesn't get old. So, just a heads up, my quirky side might be coming out in the next few weeks. You might see me posting pictures or random tidbits. Who knows?!

The sports I am excited to see the most: if I said watching Ryan Lochte and Michael Phelps swim, would I sound positively gross? Because seriously, I am so excited to see these two amazing swimmers to duke it out in the pool. Based on their Trials performances, it is going to be a fight to the finish....I'm excited to see how it goes down. Michael Phelps is my generation's Mark Spitz and with this being his last Olympics....it feels as if an era is ending. Sad. And the you have the women's gymnastics. If I could do any sport, gymnastics would have been the one I would have done. I'm as petite as they are (there. I just told you how short I am.) I really think that this could be the year the gold medal is reclaimed by the US.....I would love to see it happen again. I love watching the artistry and all of the tumbles and flips. I can barely do a somersault so I definitely live vicariously through them. 


I sound positively nerdy I know.....please tell me there are other Olympic people out there!! Go Team USA! That is all I have to say =) Okay.....by listening to that music, I am totally excited now!!) 

In the Olympic Spirit,

I Survived Catering a Wedding

There was nothing quite like that lime mint water (think a nonalcoholic mojito) after a long, hot day this Saturday! By God's grace, and His alone, I made it through the wedding I catered. Granted, it did involve staying up until 2 AM because two different breads needed to rise and signs needed to be saying what was vegetarian and what was not. It also meant that members of my family had to pitch in a lot with the final details as I had to work all day.

Unfortunately, I didn't get to witness the ceremony. I was busy inside trying to find serving utensils (seemingly the bride and I forgot to cover that detail) and how to work their super techno gas stove. However, everything got on the serving table when it was supposed to. The bride and groom were happy. All of the guests were happy. The food did turn out fabulously so everyone said....and I must say, I was very pleased myself.

What did it look like? Well, the picture below is just a sampling of some of the food we had.

The biggest downside was all of the food that we had left over. I had three crockpots of chicken left!!!  I think the bride was a little generous on how many people to plan for and I even went a little above that. Oh well. Thank goodness for freezers and I didn't have to make dinner for a few nights =)

Everyone keeps saying I should go into the catering business. I'm not ready for that right now. However, proving to myself that I could do this was huge. =) It was a lot of fun....but I am glad to be back in the blogosphere again =)

Feeling Like Jennifer Lopez

Life sometimes takes us by surprise. No. Let me rephrase that. It always takes us by surprise. Of late, I have tried to focus on the fact that since my Lord holds my future, I don't need to freak out about every little detail. He is going to direct me where He wants me to go. He is going to bring situations into my life--both good ones and bad ones--that He want me to experience and learn from.

Well, this week, I got thrown for the biggest loop ever. An opportunity to "cater" a wedding for forty people came my way! I'm not even going to school to be a caterer or a chef; I want to be a food critic--but that doesn't matter. A friend of our family is getting remarried and he told a fiancee about my cooking. After their previously hired caterer tripled the rate on them last minute, they contacted me. I jumped at the opportunity.

I thought it was going to be an appetizer reception. After all, it is going to be a really low key wedding. It's at their house for goodness sake! But nope, it is going to be a dinner reception, complete with chicken and a vegetarian lasagna. The bride wanted all of my suggestions and said we should do each one that I threw out there. She definitely wasn't a bridezilla =D The menu is:

*Creamy Crockpot Chicken with Green Chiles and Mushrooms
*Nana's Rice with Orzo and Pine nuts
*Colorful Vegetable Salad
*Bobby Flay's Pomegranate Salad with Blue Cheese and Glazed Walnuts
*Vegetarian Lasagna
*Homemade French Bread and Herbed Cloverleaf Rolls with Caramelized Onion Butter
*Caprese Bites
*Deviled Eggs

It's a full plate of yummy stuff. And get this: I will be working Thursday night, all day Friday, and all day Saturday.....and the wedding is at six o'clock on Saturday night. Yes, I see a lot of late nights in order. (Not that I go to bed early anyway ;-)) So, if it is dull as tombs around my blog and on my visiting yours, this would be the reason why. I would covet, absolutely covet, prayers that the Lord would help me get everything done in a timely and efficient manner. I am super duper excited for this opportunity.

So why do I feel like JLo? Well, my favorite movie of hers is "The Wedding Planner." I absolutely adore that movie. I mean, I wear a smile on my face the entire time I am watching the movie. For a minute, I feel as if I am a wedding planner and that I am helping our dear friends enjoy their wonderful day. I am blessed that I have taken a load off of their shoulders. I don't see myself meeting a Matthew McConaughy at this wedding, since these people are in their sixties, but still.....

Enjoy watching the trailer! I just couldn't resist!

Stinkin' Computer

Since Friday mid-afternoon, this has been the face of not only myself, but of my entire family as well. We have been victims of having no internet connection, thanks in no small part to some fault router box or something of that sort. And just so you know, you can call your provider and they can  expedite the replacement--you had just better hope it isn't over the weekend.

We managed to survive without the internet. I stole moments at work in which to hurriedly check my e-mail and give a cursory glance to Facebook. But that is about it. I didn't have the opportunity to read blogs or work on my own. Isn't it funny how "dependent" we have made ourselves on technology? It can border on pathetic and I'm the first to admit it. I'm also going to admit that I enjoy having it. What's that saying? You don't know a good thing until you don't have it? I am inclined to agree.

So that is the reason for my absence and silence these past few days. But the problem has been fixed and we are back online; the remedy is in play. In other words.....I'm baaaaaccckkkk =D

Getting Beyond My Fear of Friendship

Sometimes, you read something that just hits you. It's one of those things that you could have written yourself. Recently, someone very near and dear to my heart shared with me the following article. I am telling you, you guys need to read it!

Go to the article here

See what I mean? It's good, isn't it? And it is absolutely, positively spot on. I have been in that place. That sort of place is definitely not a fun one. It was, and still can be, a place where there is much pain and sadness and tears. However, a thought that stood out to me was this:

Friendship is the comfort, the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person! Having neither to weigh thoughts or measure words, but pouring all right out just as they are, chaff and grain together, certain that a faithful friendly hand will take and sift them, keep what is worth keeping and, with a breath of comfort, blow the rest away


I have been blessed with several friends who live out that above statement in my life. They are the friends that I turn to when I need pray, they are the friends that I can act positively stupid with; they are their for me when I need a shoulder to cry on or someone to vent to. They don't live me and each and every one of them plays a different role in the grand scheme of things--but I feel safe around them.

It has not always been this case for me and indeed, if I were to tell you all about my friendship woes, we would be here much too long. However, I can attest to the fact that I had to get beyond my fear of friendships, to open myself myself to possible rejection again, before I got to experience friendships built on really solid foundations.

If I had one piece of advice for you and for myself, it would be this: be the kind of friend that a person can lean on. It looks different with every person and with every friendship. Just don't be a mean girl. Don't be a jerk. There are enough of those in the word. Be an example of Christ.

Coming Home--A Book Review

Title: Coming Home
Author: Karen Kingsbury
Published Date: 2012
My Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars


Synopsis from Book:
A story of faith and a forever kind of love....The Baxters make plans to come together for a summer lakeside reunion in celebration of John Baxter's seventieth birthday. But before the big day, the unthinkable happens. As the Baxter family rallies together, memories come to light in the grief stricken hours of waiting and praying, memories that bring healing and hope during a time when darkness may otherwise have the final word.

IN a season that changes all of them, the brilliance of family love overshadows the valley of heartache. Along the way, secrets are revealed, and the truth about the Baxter family history is finally made known. Ultimately, in this portrait of family love, the Baxters cling to each other and to God's promise of forever.

This stand alone novel will serve as either a grand introduction or a beautiful conclusion in the saga of the Baxter family.

My Review:
There is something special about a series of books in which you connect deeply with the characters. For twenty-two books, I have fallen in love with the Baxter family from Bloomington, Indiana. They are not a perfect family--in fact, they have many problems. They are broken individuals who, by God's grace, are made into something of beauty. At the end of the each book, you felt that the characters were, well, alive. They seemed real and they had real problems. I always found something in the books I identified with.

However, as the series progressed, story lines did begin to get "blend" for lack of a better word. Especially with Karen Kingsbury's latest series, the Bailey Flanigan Series, you felt as if she was either too close to her characters (as that is what happens when you base novels off of your daughter) or she was running out of ideas. As much I was loved Karen, I was fearful as to whether or not she would rekindle that "spark," the spark that was always present during her previous series.

I am happy to report that "Coming Home" was a brilliant book. Because it was a stand alone novel, Karen began the novel in a retrospective mode; we got to be reminded of how paths crossed and of the works God had done. I have to say, I was thrilled that happened. It has been a while since I had read the beginning books and while I remembered them, I liked them being fresh in my mind. But that was only the first third of the book--the rest was a story that tugs on the heart strings.

Did I figure it out before I even started reading? No....not exactly. Did I guess the ending as certain things progressed? Well....sort of. I was on my toes throughout the book and yes, I bawled like a baby. I read the book in an entire day (the Fourth of July to be precise), but I also spent the day having my mascara running down my dace. I'm just an emotional wreck of a human being; I connect to these characters far too easily. In my mind, they are very real. And I hated to see them come to a close. It was like the ending of your favorite movie.

Even if you have never read a novel of Karen Kingsbury's before, I would say that you need to read this one. By the ending paragraph, you will see it is a beautiful story of  family and of coming home, both to our earthly home and to our Heavenly one. I loved it....and I do think that you would too. And if you are a fan of Karen's, I will just tell you this: if you despaired during the whole "Bailey saga," you don't need to anymore. Karen is back!

The Amazing Spider-Man--A Movie Review

Title: The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)
Starring: Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Rhys Ifans, Denis Leary, Martin Sheen, Sally Field
Rating: PG-13
My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Peter Parker (Andrew Garfield) is a young man looking for answers. It was years ago that, under the cover of darkness and rain, his father and mother dropped him off at Uncle Ben (Martin Sheen) and Aunt May's (Sally Field) home, never to be seen or heard from again. It's not that he doesn't love his other family--he really does--and he is a good kid on top of it. Peter just has a lot of pent up emotions and when he stumbles across a file with cryptic codes and formulas, the mystery surrounding his parent's departure grows.

Remembering the Other 364

Yesterday was the Fourth of July. The majority of Americans undoubtedly spent the day having barbecues and shooting off fireworks. My day was slightly different in that I spent the first part of my afternoon in the movie theater and then the remainder of the afternoon underneath a shady tree, bawling my eyes out, to Karen Kingsbury's latest book. Then we had grilled out burgers, had deviled eggs and strawberries dipped in white chocolate, and then watched "Yankee Doodle Dandy." It wasn't the average type of day, but at the same time, it was stereotypical. I did all of the things that we just associate with the holiday. (And just for the record, one day it is my dream to spend the Fourth of July in Washington D.C. =D You can't get more stereotypical than that.)

It's on the Fourth of July that we remember fighting for our independence from England. Being a American History fanatic in middle/high school, I grew up reading and learning about "taxation without representation" and the Founding Fathers. These were men who believed in democracy, in getting a fair shake, in following a set of rules and yet having your say as to what those rules are. However, as the years have passed since that day when fifty-five men put pen to the Declaration of Independence, we have not honored the memory of Washington, Adams, Franklin, Jefferson, and others like we should have.

We have been richly blessed to live in the United States of America. We have the ability to worship the Lord in freedom and peace; there isn't any fear of secret police arresting you at clandestine meetings. We have the ability to vote for whichever candidate we want, regardless if they are Democrat or Republican; we aren't forced to vote for the Government's candidate. As Americans, we have been given the freedom of speech, the freedom of religion, the freedom to keep and bear arms--not all countries can say such things for their citizens. It's for all of these reasons that we should get down on our knees every day and thank the Lord. Because they can just as easily be taken away from us.

It's common knowledge that we live in very interesting times. Our freedoms can be and sometimes are being stripped away at any possible moment. The last thing we need to do is turn a blind eye. The men who fought and died on the battlefields of Valley Vorge, Saratoga, Bunker Hill, Lexington and Concord believed in a cause. An important cause. They wanted the future citizens of their beloved land to always carry important freedoms close to their hearts.

We truly live in a beautiful country and I'm not ashamed to say it. I love this country. I love looking at the American flag soaring high in the sky. I tear up during events that honor our military. And yes, I love all of our patriotic songs and dressing in red. So as we have our barbecues and fireworks, as we gather with family and friends, may we try to remember that the Fourth of July is more than a day. Its name should be synonymous with "freedom" and we have those every single day. May we cease turning our eyes away from God in these days....without God, we are nothing. The Founding Fathers knew that.....and we should too. We have much to be thankful for three hundred and sixty-five days of the year.

And just because I couldn't resist, I had to add a video of our National Anthem sung by Carrie Underwood. Happy (albeit belated) Fourth of July, y'all!