Pure imagination

Did you miss us? Blog Project 3.0 was on hiatus for a few months, but now we're back! This group has been going on for about two years, even though one of the group members changed after a few months. I love blogging with this group and I hope we can continue to inspire each other.

This week, Froggie chose the topic: I would have never imagined...

First, read what everyone else had to share on this topic. I will be only posting links to posts on this same topic from my group. So check back if you were hoping to read their blogs and don't see a link yet.

Darwin Shrugged
Froggie
Moma Rock

This topic requires a list.

I would have never imagined...

*That we would reach the year that Back to the Future II took place. See what they got wrong about this year. Then see what they got right.

*That more than half my life has been spent on the Internet. (Do the math...)

*That I would live in a different state from the one I grew up in.

*That I'd be less than a year away from the big 4-0 and that this age wouldn't feel as old as it seemed when I was a kid.

*That my book blog would do so well over the course of five years, or that I'd be overwhelmed by my book collection...

*That someone I completely despise can share a birthday with someone I completely love.

*That I'd be at the same job for almost six years. Goes beyond my three-years-at-the-most average.

*That Betty White would outlast all the other Golden Girls. I love Betty, but I really was expecting Rue or Estelle to live the longest. (Sorry, Bea!)

*That I'd be listening to a hip-hop and rap musical about Alexander Hamilton, written by the creator of In the Heights.

*That I could go to a restaurant where people leave their laptops and cell phones unattended, but someone would rather steal my magazine.

*That the music I grew up with would be grouped into the "oldies" category. Sorry, but Madonna and Michael Jackson do not belong in the same category as Elvis and The Beatles.

*That I'd be a mom for a decade.

*That I'd go from spending Yom Kippur afternoon at McDonald's when I was a kid to spending most of it at Shul as an adult. (Need more of an explanation for this one? Look no further.)

*That I'd finally lose the post-pregnancy weight after three years. I was looking at pictures from early 2014 and now and can definitely see a difference.

*That I'd cave into purchasing a Kindle. It kept me company during the long wait for an oil change earlier this week. Not that I couldn't have brought a paperback, but it's nice to not have my e-reader tied to my computer!

Parenthood Season 3--SPOILERS included

I'm just sharing my random thoughts per episode for these blog posts. Hope this will allow anyone who has already seen the series to enjoy it vicariously. I contribute my thoughts after watching each episode, so it's basically like you're watching it with me. This post took over a month to write, as a result.

For information on episodes, here's a guide.

Spoilers ahead, but this won't make sense unless you've watched the whole season anyway.


Ep 1:
Adam's whole situation was very familiar, especially with what he said about wanting to provide for his family. My husband said that a lot when he was job searching. I think the job Crosby is proposing is risky at this point in time, but it also seems really cool. I'm glad Kristina is working again. She seems really proud of what she does.
Amber seems to be going for the Miley Cyrus look with her new hairstyle. The place she wants to live at looks pretty creepy, but also reminds me of the place Sarah and Felix share on Orphan Black.
Sarah definitely has the 40 is the new 30 concept going for her. She hasn't aged at all since season one. I'm glad she and Mark have reconnected. I'm hoping more will happen between them now that Amber is out of high school.
I'm glad Camille reminded Sarah of what she was like when she was Amber's age.
I felt bad for Alex with being put in a position where he felt he had to punch the other guy. I wonder what he has on his record already.
I hope it works out for Julia to adopt Zoe's (the latte girl) baby.
They should not be having family dance parties until some people start dancing better. I'm still embarrassed for Adam in that respect.
That must have been awkward for Crosby when the pancake house girl told Jabbar she was Crosby's "special friend." It's interesting that Jasmine is dating now. I wonder if that will lead Crosby to be in a serious relationship with someone else. I don't think it will be the pancake house girl though.

Ep 2:
I wonder why Zoe doesn't want Julia to adopt her baby. Her response of just saying "no" seemed really harsh.
I can totally relate to Kristina with being frustrated over not getting answers about Max. I'd be freaking out too. I'm glad his teacher isn't as awful as she was coming off in the beginning. It was cute at the end when Jabbar's friends were asking Max for advice on a game. I like how Max is really trying to be social. It makes me sad that his efforts were being rebuffed.
I'm glad that Adam is going into business with Crosby. I hope that he's able to lay down the law when he needs to and that Crosby will respect his business decisions.
I'm also glad that Haddie knows the truth about Alex. I just hope she doesn't now feel like she's only with him out of obligation.
Sarah and Mark are so cute together. I love how both Camille and Amber were encouraging her to be with him.

Ep 3:
I'm glad Zoe gave Julia an answer. I understand why she'd make such a decision. By the way, I'm surprised that it hasn't bothered Julia that Kristina is expecting soon.
I like what Kristina said to Crosby about not screwing up and how it wasn't open for discussion. His business venture is definitely risky.
Crosby was being annoying about Jabbar's wheat allergy. Not like it's so hard to find gluten-free food these days.
Sarah was also being annoying with checking up on Amber, but I love that Amber called her to help out when she thought there was an intruder. I'd be freaking out too if I found a rat in my home. I loved Sarah and Amber's reactions when they saw it.
It was cute how Drew was trying to flirt with Amy. I'm glad things went well the second time around.
I'm glad Adam stood up for Alex to the parents of the guy Alex hit. It obviously made a difference.
I wonder if the new baby will end up having Asperger's or not. I could see Kristina feeling conflicted about it either way.

Ep 4:
The situation with Max and Jabbar totally got out of control. Crosby was out of line in not talking to Adam and then telling Jabbar what to do while also using Max's Asperger's as a reason, even without saying so. I don't blame Adam for being mad (even though he obviously got over it quickly). Jasmine could have talked to Kristina about it though. Putting the responsibility on Crosby was the first mistake. I feel bad for Max in all of this.
Again, embarrassed about Adam's dancing at the end.
The story line about Zeke and Camille is kind of stale at the moment. Nothing wrong with two people in a marriage finding things that make them individual.
I don't see why it's so scandalous for Mark to be kissing Sarah. They weren't making out at all and the girls at school are twisting things out of proportion. It's not like he was cheating on someone or kissing someone who works at the school. At least it gave an excuse for Drew to finally say something to Amy.
"A reptile dysfunction." Too funny. Why would adults even bring up that topic with kids around?
I feel bad for Haddie, but she's still a teenager and has a lot of possibilities ahead of her. She hasn't even gone to college yet. I had a feeling something was off between her and Alex anyway. I like Alex, but they weren't really in sync anymore.

Ep 5:
I am surprised that Zoe changed her mind, but I kind of saw it coming. It seems like it will definitely be hard on her emotionally.
I love how Amber was able to work with Max on empathy. I actually got teary-eyed when he apologized to Jabbar.
I loved the fight between Crosby and Kristina. It was just so honest. I had a feeling her water would break at that moment. So awkward that Crosby had to be at the birth though. At least they gave a realistic visual of a baby after they are born instead of it coming out all clean and perfect looking. Such a cute baby too!
Speaking of awkward, Adam's outfit was just ridiculous. I'm glad he realized that too. I hope he made a good impression on Mr. Ray.
I could also see things getting awkward if Jasmine starts dating the pediatrician.
I wonder what happened to Seth at the end of the episode. I'm glad his drama isn't scaring Mark off.

Ep 6:
I love that Sarah laid down the law with Seth and that he actually agreed to go to rehab. I wonder what will come of this. I also thought it was great how Joel stood up to Zeke on Sarah's behalf. I am starting to get worried about things between Sarah and Mark though,
I am surprised that Julia is a lawyer but doesn't have everything lined up for this adoption to go through. It could totally blow up in her face.
It was cool that Cee Lo recorded at the studio. I'm glad he figured out for himself what was wrong with the sound and that it wasn't really Adam or Crosby's fault.
Given that Adam handles the business end of the partnership, he should not be telling Crosby how to handle the set-up end of things, Crosby was right in telling him to back off. I'm glad they're able to work together overall though.
It wasn't really fair of Haddie to get annoyed with Kristina for being too tired to look at her essay. It is very tiring to have a new baby. And for the baby only being a few days old, she's quite alert and chatty. I guess there are some unrealistic aspects.

Ep 7:
I have to just say this now...Zoe looks like Tatiana Maslany. I keep thinking of Tatiana whenever I see Zoe. And really, I'm not even sure where the resemblance comes into play. In any case, I'm glad Julia told Zoe not to eat sushi. She's almost done with her pregnancy anyway, so I don't see why she can't wait just a little longer before consuming foods that are unsafe for babies.
Speaking of babies, Nora is super cute. Even so, I still don't buy that she's so interactive for five and a half weeks old.
I'm annoyed with the Sarah and Seth story line. I really don't want them to get back together. It will just make things messy. I like Mark and Sarah together and I'm glad Mark put his foot down about the last minute cancellations. I feel bad for him that he's getting pushed aside so much. I'm glad Zeke is meddling this time and that Adam said something too.
I'm glad Crosby said something to Jasmine about Joe. I just feel bad for him now since Jasmine is ready to get serious with Joe. Even so, Crosby made his bed and now he has to lie in it. And he needs to shave. I really don't like the facial hair. He just looks scruffy. Mark looks cute with facial hair. Crosby? Not so much.
Kristina's freak-out was kind of amusing. I could probably see myself doing the same thing, although I wouldn't be driving the van afterward. I love how she referred to herself as psycho in the end. Or how Haddie was joking about it with her.

Ep 8:
I can actually relate to Kristina feeling self-conscious around the hot new receptionist. I love what Adam said to her though and I got teary-eyed during that scene.
Zeke was really crossing the line this week. I can't believe how selfish he was being and trying to put Camille in the middle of it. I thought it was funny when the younger girls rolled their eyes.
I was super annoyed that Seth kissed Sarah. I'm glad Amber finally told him to give Sarah some space and that he listened to her. I just hope he's not lying about his cousin giving him a job.
I'm glad Crosby spoke his mind about Joe doing all the father-son stuff with Jabbar. I think Joe has a story to tell and that it's going to be a sad one. Bracing myself for that. It was nice that Joe gave him the football tickets but I'm glad he also told Crosby that he's not going anywhere.

Ep 9:
I can't believe Rachel kissed Adam, even though I saw it coming a bit. Still, Adam was stupid to go up to her apartment to see her inside. I don't see things going well from here on out.
I'm glad Sydney learned her lesson about sportsmanship. Her tantrum reminded me of my own seven year-old. I was annoyed at Zeke for telling Julia and Joel how to parent her though. They could obviously see that she was being a sore loser at the charades game.
I feel bad for Max with how the other kids are making fun of him, regardless of his oblivion. I'm glad Kristina told Louis off, even though I'm sure it will backfire somehow.
I'm glad Sarah put her foot down with Drew. While it's good that Mark helped her see things another way, it really wasn't his place to. I just hope Drew's grades improve. I could also see my seven year-old being like him when he gets older. (Not ready for teenagers!!!)
I love the version of "You're the One that I Want" that was playing when Drew was sneaking out to kiss Amy.

Ep 10:
If Zoe were to go through an adoption agency, she wouldn't get paid for giving them her baby, right? So where does her boyfriend get off asking Julia and Joel for money? Also, it's not like she created the baby just for them. This was a circumstance that was already in play. So worried that Julia and Joel will end up back at square one because of all this.
I don't know if Adam was wrong to tell Kristina the truth about Rachel or to lie about firing her. I'm glad Kristina is going back to work though. She needs something to help her feel good about herself.
I felt bad for Jabbar not knowing what was really going on between Crosby and Jasmine and what he said about wanting to be in the same home. It seems like this could bring them back together, if the end of the episode is any indication.
Amber needs to get a better paying job or move back home until she figures things out for herself. Otherwise, she's going to dig herself into an even deeper hole. At least she knows that she can't do this alone anymore.

Ep 11:
I feel bad for Zoe with the position she's in. I'm glad Julia stood her ground, even knowing what she could lose, but I also worry about the fate of the baby if her boyfriend doesn't sign the adoption papers.
I'm glad things are back on track for Sarah and Mark. It's cute how she responded to his question about freaking her out when he mentioned wanting to have a baby with her.
I'm glad Haddie said something to Max after he was returned home safely. I still think he's going to be able to use Asperger's as a crutch for getting out of trouble if Adam and Kristina let him get away with running away from home.
It's pretty big of Kristina to forgive Rachel for kissing Adam. Also, I'm glad Kristina gave Amber a job. I hope it works out for both of them.
I was impressed with Crosby's grown-up epiphany about Jasmine and I also like that he was nicer to Joe this time.

Ep 12:
It didn't really move the story along much, but had some good moments. Lots of interesting family interaction.
Zeke was driving me crazy with how he wouldn't leave Adam alone regarding Kristina's decision. I'm glad Kristina put her foot down though. I was wondering when she'd stop letting Max get away with bad behavior. Her fight with Max reminds me so much of the fights I get into with my seven year-old.
I can see why Zeke is the way he is, but I'm glad he stood up to his mother at the end, even in the nicest way possible.
It's sad how technology has taken over having actual conversations. I can understand Adam's frustration, but I know I've done the same thing as Haddie was doing.
The whole situation between Sarah and Drew was awkward. I'm glad they cleared the air though. What Sarah said to Drew makes sense. Everyone is a person, regardless of their role in another's life.

Ep 13:
I'm glad Sarah and Mark finally got to address his comment about wanting to have a baby with her and that they're both interested in pursuing that a bit more.
I was relieved that Troy signed the adoption papers. I feel bad for Zoe that she really doesn't have anyone though.
I loved Adam's picture on the cover of the magazine. Too funny. It was nice that Max thought it was awesome. I understand why Crosby would be upset about having his thunder stolen, but I'm glad he came around in the end.
I am thinking something more will happen between Crosby and the cello player. There's some chemistry between them.
I'm glad Bobby liked Amber's feedback about his campaign ad. Especially since she feels like no one takes her seriously. I felt bad for her being snubbed by the interns. I'm glad she didn't tell them about her connection to Kristina.

Ep 14 and 15:
I felt bad for Haddie because of how Max's needs take precedence over her own. I'm glad she said something about it. Why can't she apply for scholarships though? Is that not even an option?
I love that Amber is doing well at her new job. It's really nice to see her succeed. I even cried when Kristina told her she got a promotion. I had a feeling that Bobby was going to kiss her though. That had to have been awkward. I'm glad it hasn't stopped her from doing well at her job. It sounds like Bobby had honest intentions. I could still see why it would bother Amber.
That had to have been weird for Sarah to meet Mark's ex-girlfriend. At least she was nice to Sarah, but still...
Sarah's freak-out toward the end of episode 15 was interesting, but I'm glad she brought up the elephant in the room between her and Mark. Mark is so sweet though.
What is really going on with Sarah's play-writing career? Is she still going to pursue it?
The interaction between Sarah and Drew at the college made me not ready to have a teenager.
I wonder when Zeke will tell everyone about his heart condition. I'm glad Camille is being supportive and going along with his RV idea.
The dynamic between Crosby and Jasmine is getting interesting. She was definitely jealous of his interest in Lily and she seems almost hesitant to move in with Joe, like she wants him to talk her out of doing it. The ballet bar doorknob was a nice touch. I also liked his drunken confession regarding his feelings about her. I feel bad for Lily having to hear that though.
I'm glad Adam put his foot down with Crosby in regards to getting new clients. It's not show-friends, it's show-business, right?
Crosby still needs to shave!
I can imagine it being hard for Zoe to give up her baby in general, especially after what the birthing instructor said. I understand why she moved out after what she told Joel. I'm glad he confronted her though. I have a feeling things are going to be super emotional all around when she has the baby.

Ep 16:
Drew and Mark win the most awkward guy's night out award. Wow. It was especially awkward once Drew started crying. Part of me feels bad for him and the other part thinks he's a teenager already and has the mental capacity to understand that his mom is not trying to "replace" him and Amber.
I hope that Sarah telling Seth about her plans to have a baby doesn't somehow send him flying off the wagon. Otherwise, that could derail things for her.
I'm glad Zeke was open with Crosby about his health situation. I was getting worried about him being all winded while they were playing basketball.
I love that Max has a new friend! I got all teary-eyed when his friend came over and his friend's parents expressed how they were in a similar situation to Adam and Kristina.
I don't know that I'm comfortable with what's going on between Bobby and Amber. I know they're both consenting adults, but it's so inappropriate. I'm sure Sarah will find out about this soon enough. Kristina reacted so quickly. I wonder if this will affect their jobs at all.
I don't blame Zoe for being mad at Julia about micro-managing her life. I'm glad she told Julia the truth about her educational background. It's nice that she is letting Julia help her study for her GED though. I know Julia has good intentions, but sometimes she can be as overbearing as Kristina.

Ep 17:
That's quite an offer that Adam and Crosby got for the Luncheonette. It seems so soon though. They just started up the place. I wonder if Adam will be able to persuade Crosby to take the higher offer. I can see things from both their perspectives, so that's definitely a gray area.
I feel bad for Julia with Zoe getting attached to the baby, but I'm not surprised about it. I had a feeling that would happen.
I am so glad that Jasmine has finally forgiven Crosby and that they're back together. That was the part I got the most emotional about in this episode, oddly enough.
I don't think Sarah will be able to move to New York like she wants to. She's still too involved in Amber's life and Amber is technically an adult now. Sarah's argument with Kristina was interesting in that they both had valid points.

Ep 18:
Lots of surprises in store for the Bravermans....
The fight between Adam and Crosby was crazy, but hard not to laugh about.
I love how Zeke said "chuppah," And who is even Jewish in the family? Certainly not Julia, since she decorated a room for a baby before even taking them home from the hospital. Look how that turned out. I'm glad she and Zoe didn't fight about this, but it was still a sad situation. Interesting that Camille also said she had a feeling it would happen this way.
I can see why Sarah wanted to break up with Mark. In a way, she feels like she's cheating him out of something he could want in the future. I love that he proposed to her at the end. I wonder what will come of that, since all she really did was smile.
I must reiterate that I don't want my kids to become teenagers. The scene between Drew and Amy was enough to verify that for me. I can see a teen pregnancy coming out of this one...
I'm glad Adam changed his mind about selling the Luncheonette. Surprised a bit, as well. I thought he'd sell it and then convince the guy to let Crosby still manage things.
The biggest (and I mean "biggest") surprise was that Julia and Joel ended up with a kid instead of a baby. I'm still digesting that. I feel bad for the kid because he's probably scared and being thrust into this new situation so suddenly. I'm also worried for Julia and Joel that the kid will eventually start acting out or something. I wonder what this will be like for Sydney...someone her age instead of a baby brother. Wow.
I'm really happy for Crosby and Jasmine being together. I feel bad for Joe and Lily, but if those relationships weren't meant to be, then oh well.
I wonder if Zeke will ever tell the rest of the family about his heart condition.
I'm glad Amber made a mature decision for herself regarding Bobby vs, her career. I still don't like them together. And if Bobby is 28 and Kristina is in her 40s, how have they known each other for that long? Was she his babysitter? Or did I miss some crucial piece of information?

Overall, an emotionally powerful season. Three more to go. I wonder what will be in store for the Bravermans in season four.

Thoughts on Season One
Thoughts on Season Two

Let's do it right this time!

Darwin Shrugged recently took on my movie remakes topic and did a twist with it...movies that SHOULD be re-made. While I am still against movie remakes, I thought this was a clever idea and there are some movies that could use a do-over.

My top five:

*A Walk to Remember: It was supposed to take place in the 1950s, not the 2000s. That's where it first went wrong. The only thing I liked was Mandy Moore singing "Only Hope." Otherwise, way to ruin what was a really good Nicholas Sparks novel. I cried at the end because I was so appalled by it.

*Frozen: Even though it's animated, maybe if they removed Olaf and just did the story better, making it more compelling and with songs that aren't as catchy so that they won't be played over and over by my kids....
See my thoughts on Frozen right here.

*Star Wars, Episode I: The Phantom Menace: Such an anticipated movie that became a major disappointment. Not only was it boring and didn't really add much to the original trilogy, but it had Jar Jar Binks. Need I say more?!?

Apparently, someone else had the same idea, only they edited the original to compensate for the annoying factors. If you have a little over 90 minutes to spare, check it out.

*Newsies: If this movie didn't have songs, it would have been incredibly boring. I know I'm ragging on Disney twice here, but after seeing the stage musical of Newsies, I think they need to do the Hairspray thing and re-film the movie with the story line and songs from the Broadway version. I could see either Anna Kendrick or Emma Stone as Katherine (who takes place of Bill Pullman's character, Denton).

Here's the Broadway version of "King of New York," which features Katherine:



*Pretty in Pink: It didn't work for me when I was a kid. Then I tried watching it as an adult and found it even more annoying. And that dress at the end? UGH! In my version, Andie would have gotten together with Ducky instead. I always liked him better than Blaine. The only thing I'd keep from the original is "If You Leave" by OMD. That's the only reason I bought the soundtrack.

I just love this song!!!


What movies do you think need a do-over?

No more remakes!!!

Did you miss us? Blog Project 3.0 was on hiatus for a few months, but now we're back! This group has been going on for about two years, even though one of the group members changed after a few months. I love blogging with this group and I hope we can continue to inspire each other.

This week, I chose the topic: What are FIVE movies that should never, ever, EVER be re-made? (Talk about why for each of them.)

First, read what everyone else had to share on this topic. I will be only posting links to posts on this same topic from my group. So check back if you were hoping to read their blogs and don't see a link yet.

Darwin Shrugged
Froggie
Moma Rock

I am not a fan of movie remakes. I will admit to having seen a few, but I usually refuse. I think the only one I enjoyed was Freaky Friday with Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis. I actually cried at the end! Last year, I wrote about why I refused to see the remake of Annie. Turns out, I was validated by everyone who saw it telling me how terrible it was. I recently heard about some 90s movies that were potentially going to be re-made: Jumanji and The Craft. So ridiculous that this even needs to happen! I also heard about a Roadhouse remake. I only saw that movie once, but still...

If I had to choose five movies that should never be remade, these are the ones that come to mind:

*The Princess Bride: This movie just can NOT be re-made for any reason whatsoever. Without Andre the Giant, any remake would be a "giant" flop! It's the cast that truly makes this movie amazing. Mandy Patinkin became best known for his famous Inigo Montoya line. See my tribute from last year to see why I think a remake of this classic film would be downright criminal.

Really, the movie is still alive and kicking and everyone (or mostly everyone) loves it, so why would anyone "wish" to replace it?




*Clueless: Proof that teenagers can survive without--gasp!--iPhones. It would just be so wrong to try to re-make a 20 year old movie that is still revered as a major piece of pop culture. No one could pull off Cher the way Alicia Silverstone can. There was a TV series about the movie, but I think it flopped because Alicia wasn't Cher. Also, the soundtrack totally makes the movie what it is. There's that 90s blend of pop and grunge.

Check out the trailer for some fun nostalgia:


Oddly enough, Wallace Shawn was in the first two movies I listed!

*Dirty Dancing: As I was thinking about this movie, "(I've Had) The Time of My Life" came on my Pandora station. What are the odds, right? There was a remake in the works, but it's either been cancelled or on the back burner. That's a relief, at least. There's something to be said about it taking place in the 1960s and the simplistic feel of the time, where going off dancing with a hot guy on the resort staff was seen as taboo. Also, with Jennifer Grey's new face and Patrick Swayze being dead for the last six years (as of this past Monday), it would be dishonorable to them to have new actors in similar roles. Just make a different dance movie, for crying out loud. Don't ruin a good thing!

This scene always gives me the good kind of chills. Sorry if it's a spoiler, but why haven't you seen this movie by now?!?


*The Rocky Horror Picture Show: Apparently, there is a remake in the works. However, I think it's being done as more of a tribute. Not sure how anyone will pull this off. As with the other movies I mentioned, the actors are such a huge part of what makes the original so special and something you can't replicate. No offense to some awesome guys I've seen in local stage show casts, but NO ONE can play Frank N. Furter the way Tim Curry did. I repeat: NO ONE. Not even Mercedes from Glee. (Was that some Victor/Victoria thing?) The other whole point of it is the 1970s B-movie cheesiness. There's a reason it became a cult film. Even if you try to remake it as a B-movie, it just won't have the same feel. It's a product of its own time.

Time Warp with me:


And speaking of time, last but not least...

*Back to the Future: A recurring fear of mine is that now that 30 years have passed since the original Back to the Future hit theaters, someone is going to try to remake it to start in 2015 and have someone go back to 1985. That's as bad as trying to do a new version of Home Alone without Macaulay Culkin. (Yet another movie that doesn't need a remake.) There's the essence of technology and a certain feel for the different time periods that makes Back to the Future so incredible. Remaking it for a new generation would be an embarrassment to the legacy given to us by Robert Zemeckis. At least he's against the idea too! He'd better find a way to become immortal...
See my tribute to Back to the Future right here.

For a trip "back in time," watch the original trailer:


And if you want a time travel movie about people who go back to the 1980s, watch Hot Tub Time Machine.

What are the top five movies on YOUR list?

10 things about my 10 year-old

My older son has just turned 10 and I want to commemorate the occasion with a top 10 list of things I love about him.

1. He's the easy child. Yes, he has his frustrating moments, but he listens to us when we ask him to do something the first time, goes to bed when he's supposed to, gets ready for school or for bed on his own, does his chores, etc.
2. He has a great sense of humor and an adorably contagious laugh.
3. He loves all things pop culture related.
4. He's such a good big brother to both his siblings.
5. He's incredibly affectionate and always ready with a hug or a kiss. He's always the first to hug relatives and friends, as well.
6. He's so easy to talk with and keeps an open mind about things.
7. He's always excited to go to school and to share with us what he's learned.
8. He has a strong moral compass and can decide for himself if something is right or wrong.
9. He loves to read. Need I say more? ;)
10. When he finds something he likes to do, he really tries to pursue his passions.

I could go on and on, but I hope this list paints a picture of the amazing kid who first made me a mother!

How I Spent My Summer

Did you miss us? Blog Project 3.0 was on hiatus for a few months, but now we're back! This group has been going on for about two years, even though one of the group members changed after a few months. I love blogging with this group and I hope we can continue to inspire each other.

This week, Moma Rock chose the topic: Catch us up on what you've been doing these past few months.

First, read what everyone else had to share on this topic. I will be only posting links to posts on this same topic from my group. So check back if you were hoping to read their blogs and don't see a link yet.

Darwin Shrugged
Froggie
Moma Rock

I'm not much of a summer person. I hate hot weather and don't go on beach vacations. I spent most of my summer doing my usual work routine. I drove the boys to camp every morning and played Broadway soundtracks for them. Since my husband only just recently got a new job, he was able to help with the kids when they had days off from camp or in the afternoons. In the meantime, he started an in-home catering business, making individual and family-sized meals for people in our community who were looking for more of a gourmet Kosher experience. He did different themes for each meal. I helped him on the business and customer service side. Now that he's working again, he has less time for this endeavor, but people are asking him about it, so he may do something once a month after the holidays.

This is one of the food items he made for his Asian theme...Hunan Orange Chicken:

Here are some highlights from my summer (in no particular order):

*Saw Newsies at the National Theater. It was a wonderful production. "Read all about it" here.

Excited to see Newsies (and actually have a date)

*Went to the "Beach" at the National Building Museum, It was an interesting experience, even though it cost a lot for a family of five (but we don't go to the museum enough for us to want to be members) and then the line was extremely long. Once we got into the beach area, it was fun. The ball pit was smaller than I was expecting, but still overwhelming. My older son lost his cochlear implant processor when he first jumped in, but I was able to find it. I'm not sure how he didn't lose it when he went there with his camp. When I got into the deeper area, I kept getting stuck when I tried to get out. For some reason, I found that to be amusing. The kids had a blast though, so it was all worth it in the end.

*Of course, we took our kids to a water park. It was the same water park we went to last year. This year I didn't bother going down the big slide since it goes so fast and I almost drowned last time. I enjoyed the wave pool though. I had to wait to go in with my older son on our own, since my daughter was scared of it. And of course, I got sunburned.

*Took the kids to see Inside Out. It was good and reminded me of a cross between Monsters, Inc. and Wreck-It Ralph. While it was clever and emotionally powerful, I don't know that I'd rank it as a favorite. I loved Mindy Kaling as Disgust though.

*Watched lots of Parenthood (over halfway through season three now, see my thoughts on season one and season two), Odd Mom Out, Orange is the New Black (season three) and Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp.

*Read a lot, of course. My favorite from this summer was The Ice Cream Queen of Orchard Street. However, there have been other really enjoyable reads, as well.

*Went to Chicago twice. First time was a road trip with the family for Fourth of July weekend. It was a short trip, but I got to see "Will" again while he was in town and also saw a few other friends, including my BFF. My friend whom I visited in NYC was also in Chicago and it was nice to see her again, as well. The other time, I flew in for a short weekend visit to attend (my paternal grandma) Nana's funeral and shiva. I got to see my BFF again (and she even brought over stuff for us to do Shabbos dinner together) and spent time bonding with my aunt. The funeral itself was nice, as it was more about celebrating Nana's life than mourning her passing. The receiving line was kind of awkward as relatives I hadn't seen in ages were there, interspersed with my uncle's work colleagues. We had to stand there while everyone moved along slowly to pay their respects. Some friends of mine and my sister's showed up, so that was nice. The shiva was nice, as well. My aunt and uncle hosted it and their house is gorgeous. I got to spend some time talking with my cousins, as well as my cousin's new husband.

Not a selfie this time!

*Toward the beginning of the summer, Jen Tucker was in town, as her husband had a work conference in DC. We all met up with them at their hotel and went swimming. Francine LaSala (another author friend of mine) was also there for a while. Then Jen bravely conquered the Metro to come visit us a couple of days later. It was so great to see her again. I even got to take her to my favorite used book store! And we can't forget the "ool." Or creepy floating things in tea.

*Toward the end of our road trip in July, we got to meet up with my friend Nancy, whom I had been talking to online because of our shared love for books. It was great meeting her in person. She is so nice and down-to-earth. I really wish we lived closer. (Even though I could never keep up with how organized and crafty she is. :) )

*Over Labor Day weekend, we went to a hotel for my older son's 10th birthday. (His actual birthday is on Rosh Hashanah, so we had to celebrate the weekend before.) He loves hotels, as long as they have pools (and as long as those pools are "ools"). The pool at this hotel was warm and not too deep. We all had fun just splashing around and letting the kids try out their stunts. Then we had dinner and walked around downtown Annapolis and got ice cream out there. The next day, we went to the Renaissance Faire with our cousins. It was fun to go back there again, but so hot out.

*Apparently, I blogged more than I was expecting to! I even made some new blogger friends and one is actually not a book blogger either!

How was your summer?

Hey, It's Okay Tuesday

One of my favorite blogs, Airing My Laundry, does a post every week that was inspired by a section of Glamour magazine. She invites her followers to do their own posts like this. I had fun doing this a month or so ago (and even made a new blogger friend, as a result), so I thought I'd do it again. Since I don't do this weekly, my list will be long.

It's okay...

*To not think Caddyshack was funny other than maybe one or two parts.

*To be excited that my older son is turning 10 in less than a week.

*To not feel ready for the High Holidays AT ALL.

Picture from a few years ago to
make up for the challah I haven't baked yet.

*To be happy for my husband about his new job, but to also wish the commute were way shorter.

*To be annoyed that "school the next day" is not motivating my kids to go to bed earlier.

*To be happy for my daughter starting her last year of Pre-K, but also wistful because it means she's getting older.

*To want to show my kids some movies I liked when I was younger. Like UHF, for starters.



*To be sick and tired of all the news being about the Kardashians or the Duggars.

*To be happy that the county clerk in Kentucky has to go to jail and to enjoy all the memes about her hypocrisy. I especially love the OITNB one with Big Boo.

*To put off household chores in favor of watching Parenthood.

*To prioritize After You (by Jojo Moyes) over other books in my TBR pile.

*To have not had birthday parties for any of my kids this year and celebrated by doing special things as a family instead. The latest was taking everyone to a hotel (with a pool, of course) for my older son's birthday.

*To wish it were autumn already. Bring on 50 degrees and fallen leaves. And, of course...PUMPKIN! Sorry, Scary Mommy!

Randomness!

Military Wife and Pug Life recently shared these questions on her blog and said that anyone could answer them, even if they weren't tagged. I liked them so much that I'm doing it.

1) What is one trend, beauty or fashion, you cannot stand?
Spanx. I don't like the idea of squeezing oneself into something tight in order to appear thinner.

2) If you could remove all the fat and calories from any food, what would it be and why?
Ice cream, for sure!

3) What famous person makes you want to puke?
A comedic actress whose last name rhymes with "humor," but she's completely lacking in it. I just think she's incredibly annoying. And I also found out that she's writing a movie with another actress who also really annoys me.
Oh, and Donald Trump too.

4) What song do you sing (loudly) and dance (obnoxiously) to when you are by yourself?
I don't really dance much. I will sing Britney Spears' songs from her Baby One More Time CD though.

5) What was your favorite Halloween costume you ever wore?
French maid costume senior year of high school. I just looked really good in it!
I also liked some funny creative ideas I did with my husband for either Halloween or Purim, such as when we were a "Dairy Queen" and "Burger King" as a joke about not mixing meat and dairy or when we were "Be Fruitful and Multiply."
This past year, I was a "Book Fairy" for Purim. I had so much fun putting that costume together!

6) If you could be invisible for a day, what would you do?
Spy on my kids in school to see how they are doing. This way, I wouldn't draw attention to myself or embarrass them.

7) What is the stupidest excuse you've ever used to get out of doing something? And did it work?
How about saying that I don't have an answer so that I can get out of answering this question. I think it works pretty well! :P

8) What is something that truly grosses you out?
Fish. Alive or dead. I can't stand the smell of them and I don't like going into water where live fish swim around as I don't want their slimy bodies anywhere near my legs or feet.

9) Have you ever re-gifted a gift? What was it and who did you give it to?
I've re-gifted some things people have given my kids. Usually gave them as birthday presents to other people's kids.

10) If you could go back in time and tell your teenage self anything, what would it be and why?
Already done...well, sort of.


Airing my Dirty Laundry recently challenged her readers to share 10 things that would go into a bag that represented them. Some of my answers might be the same as hers.

1) Chocolate!!! Especially Reese's peanut butter cups and M&M's.

2) A book, or maybe just my Kindle. I always have to have something with me to read.
3) An issue of People magazine. I'm such a magazine junkie and People is my gateway drug. :)
4) A photo of my kids. 
5) A mezuzah. It's representative of my Judaism and my home. I say the Sh'ma and V'ahavta every night before I go to sleep. (I need to start doing this with my kids again. We did for a while and then stopped for some reason.)

6) My iPhone. Can't be without it when I'm out and about. And here I thought I wasn't going to become addicted.
7) A bag of tea, preferably vanilla flavored. I drink tea every day. Even in the summer.
8) A box of Vanilla Almond Special K. My daily breakfast addiction since 2008. I hoard this stuff whenever it goes on sale.

9) A CD to represent my love for music and show how truly old school I am. I'd probably include the Rent soundtrack for the sake of representing all the Broadway music I love.
10) A watch, as I am big on timeliness and my wrist feels naked without one.