Have tissues handy...

Blog Project 3.0 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, Darwin Shrugged chose the topic: Talk about a time music touched you at your very core.

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

After receiving this topic, I was watching an episode of Parenthood from season five, where this girl talks about a Joni Mitchell song that resonates a lot with her. Funny timing, huh? (But that's how it usually is for Darwin and myself.)

In any case, a lot of music touches me to my core in different ways and for different reasons. I'm just going to give some examples today.

"One More Time" from Sing.
This is the final song from one of my favorite movies. It's an incredible performance. I wanted to share the version from the movie vs. the one Michael Bolton does on the soundtrack. The version in the movie still gives me chills as I listen to it now. Not sure if watching this video is a spoiler for you, but it's impossible to find the movie anywhere, so it's not like you'll get the joy of seeing it as many times as I did growing up. And it's worth watching this just for Peter Dobson's knee slide. :) I can't even watch the video without getting teary-eyed.



"Here's Where I Stand" from Camp
This scene is also a movie spoiler, so if you don't want to watch the scene below, you can just listen here. The message behind the song is so poignant. She's singing it to people who want her to look different than she does. I don't want to say anymore about this in case you're planning to see the movie.



"She Didn't Have Time" by Terri Clark
This is a great song and the video enhances it perfectly. I can't listen without getting emotional and I cry every time I see the video. It reminds me of Where the Heart is in some ways.



Beethoven Symphony 7, Allegretto, movement 2
I heard this in both Knowing and The King's Speech and it's pretty incredible. It always haunts me.


I also tend to get emotional when I hear someone singing beautifully. I remember the first time I saw Sister Act and didn't expect the quiet nun to be able to sing much, but then she when lifts her voice in "Hail, Holy Queen," I started crying. If you don't feel like watching the whole thing, forward to the 2:00 point.



When I was in high school, my chorus class did this song. It was so much fun!

Any time I hear Karen Olivo singing in In the Heights, I end up crying. Her voice is so amazing. I know I shared this video in past, but I just love this song. :)



When I saw The Little Mermaid at a local professional theater last year, as soon as the girl playing Ariel started singing, the tears started flowing. Her voice was so beautiful. Here's her audition video:



Finally, most Broadway musicals manage to touch me to my core. A few on the list are The Last Five Years, Rent, In the Heights, Les Miserables, Miss Saigon, Wicked, Into the Woods, and Aida, just to name a few. I've cried from all of these musicals at least one point during the show. I love the cathartic feeling from seeing these shows.

What music has touched you to your core? Please comment below.

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 enjoy doing this a every so often, so I thought it's time for another list. Since I don't do this weekly, my list will be long.

It's okay...

*To be supportive of Israel.
I've been invited to some private online parties to show support for Israel in a safe environment. I've invited lots of people to attend and some people, for an unknown reason, declined the invitation. It's an online party so you can participate in your pajamas! What is really perplexing is that the people who declined are Jewish! I hope it was just a misunderstanding on their end. I do appreciate the support of my non-Jewish friends who are taking the time to read the articles I post and understand Israel's side of things.
Tomorrow: wear blue and white and post photos of yourself on Facebook and Twitter with the hashtag #isupportisrael.

*To not do much for Halloween...other than get your kids costumes so they can participate at school.
We haven't gone trick-or-treating in ages. One year, we did it at the mall, which was fun but got kind of chaotic after a while. That was the last year we did it and was when I was still pregnant with my youngest. I offered my oldest an opportunity to trick-or-treat the following year, and he decided he wasn't comfortable doing so. No one in our neighborhood does it anyway. We get all our treats (and give them in return) on Purim. And we dress up then too!

*To not want to cook much.
It takes an extra effort for me to cook anything these days. I was spoiled this past year when my husband was job searching and home to have dinner ready every day. (Plus, he made lots of extras from his catering side-business that I got to enjoy later on.) I also am letting my older son cook more, and he's getting good at it!

*To be almost caught up on Parenthood. Started season five recently and then have one more to go.

*To be totally behind on The Big Bang Theory. I will catch up. I promise!

*To be fully caught up on Modern Family. Finally! Still loving it!

*To be a book hoarder. My husband keeps telling me to donate books. I've given a lot away already, but my collection still manages to grow. I hang on to books I have yet to read thinking that I will eventually read them.

*To rarely ever argue with your spouse or significant other.
My husband and I were recently talking about this. It's nice to know that we don't argue all that much and when we do, we're able to talk things out and resolve them. (Sharing a sense of humor helps too.)

*To not know much about whip and nae nae and not really care either.

*To be pleased when the lady at the restaurant praises my older son just for being the nice kid he is.

*To not feel bad about working from home on a day when school is closed last minute. 
I spent some time with my kids too.

*To be annoyed when people who are friendly in person can't seem to accept your friend request on Facebook. 

*To still not have a handle on my abundance of e-mail.

*To finally get a haircut after waiting a month past when I would usually go.
I get haircuts every three months, but this time I went four months since my last visit to the stylist. She told me she missed me. :)

A peek into my diary?

Blog Project 3.0 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: How does your blogging differ from when you first started blogging?

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 never really gave this question much thought until Froggie brought it up. I've technically been blogging for a long time. It really started with Free Open Diary, which is no longer around. That was where I got the idea that a blog was like a diary that other people could have access to. However, it was more anonymous in nature, so random people who didn't actually know me could read my thoughts.

A few years later, Free Open Diary closed down, taking all my entries with it. Probably better that way, come to think of it. I then started using Blogger, but let a few people I know read my posts. I was still treating it as a diary in some ways and also sharing my thoughts on Desperate Housewives, as I had become addicted to that show.

I later decided to stop using Blogger for a while and switched to LiveJournal, where I could keep certain things as "friends-only" or "private" and others as open. I haven't used LJ in a long time and don't even know if it's still around. I shared some posts from there in my Time Warp Tuesday series back in 2010 (if you click on the link, some of the posts with this label are just focusing on memories). I also used the blog feature on MySpace, but that was slightly less personal.

Then, in late 2009, I started up in Blogger again with this blog. I moved away from the diary format and mostly started sharing memories, anecdotes, thoughts on pop culture, etc. Just stuff that makes me who I am. I even did some weekly features, such as the aforementioned Time Warp Tuesday, Friendship Friday, Funny Friday, etc. I even spent a year sharing information about random people, in an interview format, and called it "52 Stories." There's also the Thursday blog project that has been going on for quite some time now. Aside from that, I tend to write lists or participate in fun blog activities. While some of my posts may get personal at times, they don't feel like a diary as much. I'm thinking of rolling out something new for 2016 that goes along with a recent post about missing my calling.

As far as my book blog goes, it doesn't feel like a blog to me as much as a forum to talk about books and connect readers with authors. I don't know why I even call it a blog, if that makes any sense. It obviously is, but it seems like so much more than that. Maybe because there are multiple contributors, even though I handle the administration? I definitely think it has evolved a lot from when I first started it and I'm sure it will continue to go through more changes and growth as I keep it going.

Parenthood Season 4--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 about a month to write, as a result.

I watched season 4 on Netflix, due to some changes on Amazon. The only difference was the theme song. I definitely like Bob Dylan's "Forever Young" better as a theme song though. It captures the mood of the series. The other one sounds like it was just tossed in there so they had some song with the intro. Just do what some other series do and show the last image when they're all around the table and then list all the actors in the first scene after the opening credits. They don't even change around the pictures from year to year and the only difference is changing out one of the actors with another.

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:
Why is Sarah Ramos (Haddie) only listed as a guest now? Won't we get to join her on her college adventures? Isn't she still a part of the show? I guess time will tell...
It's kind of funny to hear how much Max's voice has changed over time. He's definitely becoming a pre-teen.
Speaking of adolescents, I wonder what the story is with Amy. She seemed weird around Drew. I wonder if my prediction about her becoming pregnant was correct.
It was kind of ballsy of Mark to confront Camille about the family picture. Some of the others in the family seemed annoyed that he got to be in it without being married to Sarah first. I can understand his frustration about it, but a rule is a rule and if he's meant to stick around with Sarah, he'll be in it when he's officially in the family.
The whole issue with talking to kids about religion was interesting. I agree with Crosby and Jasmine that it's the parents' job to have this conversation. If grandparents or other relatives agree with the parents' explanation or not, it's not their place to get involved. It made me wonder how much we truly talk to our kids about spirituality and prayer vs. holidays, rules, etc.
I can see where Julia is coming from with not feeling connected to Victor yet. It is a weird situation though. She was clearly expecting a baby and she ends up with a kid around Sydney's age who has already been raised with a different set of rules and morals. I'm surprised she hasn't given Max the lizard back yet.
I agree with Amber that Adam should have stayed out of things and not tried to act like her protector. When did she get the job at the Luncheonette anyway?
I love the whole new job situation with Sarah. I hope she learns the tricks of the trade soon so that the next photo shoot isn't so awkward.

Ep 2:
The whole situation surrounding Adam and Kristina getting a dog seemed so chaotic once Max was involved. $1200 for a dog? Really? The breeders of the expensive dogs seemed intimidating too. The puppy at the end of the episode was cute. Glad that situation has been resolved.
Too funny about "Funkytown." Way too much information though. :)
I'm glad Jasmine finally convinced Crosby to get onto a schedule. I had a feeling something would happen like leaving Max behind.
It was nice to see Julia soften up toward Victor a bit. I still think it's going to be an awkward situation for a while. I still love how great she and Joel are together though.
I agree with Hank about Sarah needing to give Drew some space. It was nice that he gave Drew some advice though. I guess I was wrong about Amy being pregnant. Oh well. Probably better that she isn't now.
I was dreading this news for Kristina ever since I saw the episode being described as her receiving "life-altering news." Is it sad that I'm worried for her as if she were someone in my family?

Ep 3:
I love how Adam is such a strong advocate for Kristina, but I'm glad she told him how she's feeling about everything and that she's taking control of the situation too. It's nice that Kristina knows why the one doctor was taking calls during her appointment, but I still think there could be a better system in place. Even if she is getting attention from him in that way sometime down the road, someone else will feel the same way Adam did about this.
I got teary-eyed the most when Adam told Amber about Kristina being sick.
I was amused when Zeke got arrested because he was totally out of line with not listening to the police officer. I'm glad Crosby told his siblings what is going on with Zeke's heart situation.
I was hoping Amber would convince Max to give up on the vending machine issue, but I give him kudos for running for student council president.
Sarah seems a bit too concerned with her boss' attitude. I'm glad he caved and photographed the wedding though.

Ep 4:
I'm glad Sarah helped Hank bond with his daughter. It's sad that she had to lie  to impress her friends though.
I love how Joel gave Victor an ultimatum between choosing a sport or having to play an instrument. I'm glad he later reached an understanding with Victor and I loved watching them play catch.
I liked the connection and understanding Zeke had with the younger soldier. I'm glad Zeke is feeling more of a purpose for himself by volunteering.
I am torn in regards to Max running for student council president now. It was sad to hear about the mean names people wrote on his petition. And also his teacher calling him "a kid like Max." So I can see why Kristina would want him to fight for it. However, if this ends badly, Max really could regress. He has feelings, after all.
I am glad that Adam convinced Kristina to put her health first.
I like how Jasmine handled things with Jabbar after he heard the N word. Her teaching him about their ancestry reminds me of how I talk to my kids about our own ancestry, religion-wise, and all the oppression we've dealt with over time. I feel bad ruining their innocence, but they have to know about this kind of stuff.

Ep 5:
I think the most heartbreaking moments of this episode were Kristina having to tell Haddie what's going on and then later when she tells all the adults in the family after Haddie shows up at the restaurant.
I'm glad Zeke got Ryan out of the house and I'm sure something is going to happen between Ryan and Amber now. They would be cute together though.
I felt bad for Julia being put through the wringer by both Sydney and her job. I don't blame her for having a nervous breakdown or for quitting. I hope she finds a better job for herself with more reasonable, family-friendly hours.
I love how Zeke was talking to the coach about putting Victor into the game and then Camille yells "just put him in the game!!!" It was cool that Victor got a home run, but kind of hard to believe.
The kiss Hank gave Sarah was so awkward. He's her boss! I'm glad she addressed it with him and I like that he was honest with her. I feel like she's trying to fake her relationship with Mark now, as a result.
I wonder if Crosby will lay off Adam about getting a higher salary now that he knows what's going on with Kristina.

Ep 6:
I had a feeling Crosby would mess up on his tasks somehow. I'm glad everyone wasn't too hard on him this time around.
I like the whole courtship aspect with Ryan and Amber. He's such a gentleman!
I wonder if Sarah is going to start second-guessing moving in with Mark too soon.
That's worrisome for Kristina about the cancer not being completely gone. It's sad that she's lying to Haddie just so that Haddie will go back to school. What will happen when she finds out the truth.
I loved that Max told everyone he has Asperger's. And that he won the election. I hope people will respect him more from now on. I just really liked that he owned his Asperger's and treated it like an advantage.
The girl who spoke before Max looks like an older version of Sydney. After looking up the actress on IMDB, I believe she's Sydney's sister in real life.

Ep 7:
I felt bad for Kristina with her own mother backing out of visiting her and Camille trying to take over everything in the house. It was so awkward when her friends visited too. I liked the interaction between Kristina and Camille toward the end of the episode though. It was nice how she gave her the sweater and talked about loving her like a daughter.
It was awkward when Drew went to Amy's house and her new boyfriend was there. What is going to happen with the new guy now that she is starting to have feelings for Drew again?
It was funny how Ryan told Amber he wanted to take things slow and then they're sleeping together. I wonder why he didn't tell Zeke about dating her.
It was nice to see Victor happy with his friend. I wonder if Kristina will stick with learning Spanish to connect with him more.
Adam really does need time for himself to regenerate. He has a lot on his plate right now. I'm glad Crosby noticed this and tried to help in that way.

Ep 8:
Sydney was being bratty, but I also could see why she was so upset. I'm glad Joel got Julia to come around to Sydney's way of thinking.
It was hard to see Kristina so sick. I felt as helpless as Adam. I'm glad the pot helped her though. Max was being really annoying and rude to his friend though.
It was so awkward how Mark found Drew having sex with Amy. I'm glad he told Sarah about it though, even though that opens a Pandora's box. I must reiterate that I want my kids to stay little forever.
I feel bad for Ryan. It seems like he has a lot on his mind and needs more time to process what went on in Afghanistan. It was sad how he felt he was responsible for that one man's death after changing over his fields to wheat. The whole fight with his army buddy was intense. I'm not surprised about the one guy killing himself though. It definitely goes along with PTSD.
Crosby was being annoying about not helping out, but I'm glad he pitched in at the end, Jasmine is pretty forgiving of how he was acting.

Ep 9:
The lady who moved in next to the Luncheonette is so obnoxious. I don't think Crosby should have tried to bribe her though. Julia warned him not to stir the pot. It's interesting about the zoning clause. I hope nothing happens to the Luncheonette. That would be awful. I wonder when Crosby is going to tell Adam about this.
Max was being annoying at the beginning about trying to veto the dance. I'm glad Adam and Kristina got him to come around. While it was nice that he was dancing with Kristina at the end, I worry that Adam is going to use her cancer to guilt him into other things later on.
I agree with Joel about Julia needing to let him work. I'm glad she finally saw things his way. I know how she feels about not liking the stay-at-home life. I am not the stay-at-home type either. I hope she figures out what to do for herself. Maybe part-time work so she can have the best of both worlds.
I don't blame Mark for getting mad at Sarah over wanting to work part of the weekend. I thought he took his anger too far at the end though. However, Sarah is getting way too involved in her boss' personal life.
I can see why Sarah wants Drew on a tight leash, but that's going to come to blows eventually.
I'm glad Amber told Zeke what is going on with Ryan. I hope Zeke can help him or look out for him more.

Ep 10:
I feel bad for Sarah, but I don't blame Mark for wanting to end things. He was hurt and frustrated. And he made some valid points about Sarah sabotaging things when they have the potential to be good.
I felt bad for Hank with his daughter having to move far away from him.
I'm glad Crosby was able to come through for the Luncheonette in the end. Marlise was so nasty, so I'm glad he got one-up over her. I understand why Adam was mad in the beginning of the episode though. Crosby should have told him what was going on earlier.
I also felt bad for Ryan when he messed up at the job site. I wonder if Joel will address the situation with Amber or Zeke.
It was sweet how Julia is trying to help Victor catch up in school. I'm glad she was able to help him see things in a positive way at the end. They should hire a tutor for him though. Or work with his teacher on helping him.
I love how candid Kristina was after she smoked pot right before Julia came over. It was also nice that they were focusing on something other than her having cancer while still giving her a spot in the story line.

Ep 11:
Went a bit too over the top with Christmas stuff.
Sarah moved on from Mark pretty fast. Speaks volumes about their relationship. It's funny that what Camille warned her about with the family portrait came true.
Very worrisome about Kristina, but glad she came through okay. I can't even imagine having to make a video like that for my kids. Weirdly, the only time I cried in this episode was when everyone came to see her at the hospital at the end and Haddie showed up last minute. Are they finally being truthful with her?
I had a feeling Jasmine would want another baby. I hope she has better luck than Julia did.
I am glad Amber is taking some time off from Ryan so he can get his act together. It seemed more like she was a mom than a girlfriend to him after a while.
It was funny in the beginning when Nora was walking around without a diaper and the dog pooped on the carpet. I wonder how Crosby would handle having another kid in his own family, if all goes well.
I'm glad Adam made Zeke feel needed while they were at the hospital.

Ep 12:
I'm glad Crosby came around to having Renee move in for a while. I know he felt put out by it, but their exchange at the end was nice.
Very worrisome about Victor and how he's handling things with not getting to see his birth mom. The part where he broke the glass was upsetting. I also think Sydney was goading him a bit too much.
Kristina was cute in her wig, but I'm glad she feels confident enough to go without one now. I also love how she surprised Adam and how she tricked the younger guy. Adam looked really hot at the hotel. I am surprised Kristina is only 34. Was she a teenager when Haddie was born? Unless she was lying about that age too?
Things are getting pretty interesting between Sarah and Hank. It seems like he genuinely cares about her though,

Ep 13:
I knew Amy was going to get pregnant at some point. I felt bad for Drew in this situation because it seemed like he didn't really have much say in the situation. I wonder if he actually told Sarah what happened or if she just let him cry about it without asking questions. Too bad this didn't happen the previous season so Julia could convince them to have the baby and let her adopt it. Oh well.
Speaking of which, I don't blame Julia for what she said at the end of the episode. I'd have second thoughts about the adoption if I were in her shoes. It's one thing when my own children are being rude but quite another when it's a potential adoptee. Calling the police on Julia was completely unacceptable. I'm glad he got in trouble for that and that the police tried to scare him straight. I don't think it was really fair for Joel to get mad at her about it.
The story line with Max and puberty was great. I love how candid he was about everything. I also agree about having my husband talk to our boys about this stuff and I'll talk to our daughter.
I can see why Crosby is getting annoyed with Renee being too choosy about jobs and making herself too much at home, but I also think she had a valid point at the end about her career and doing what still means something to her after all this time.

Ep 14:
Interesting how Sarah has ended up in this love triangle. I wonder who will fight harder for her. I still think Mark is adorable, but I also think Hank could be good for her.
I love that Kristina fought for Max to get the vending machine back. I just think they wasted a lot of Skittles at the end when it finally arrived. I hope the kids will be open to the healthy options though. The PTA women were like the adult version of "mean girls." So I'm extra glad that Kristina "won" this cause.
I agree with Julia that it wasn't fair of Joel to guilt-trip her into the adoption and I'm glad she had a heart-to-heart with Crosby. I wonder where the sudden turn-around from Victor came in the end. Suddenly he's being all nice and easygoing?
I also agree with Crosby about standing up to Renee about what he and Jasmine are in charge of when it comes to Jabbar's parenting. I'd be annoyed with Renee too. I'm equally annoyed that Jasmine didn't stand up to her and that she is trying to manipulate Crosby to back down. I have a feeling things are going to get ugly between him and Renee.
It was nice to know what's going on with Ryan and I'm glad Amber gave him a little pep talk while also still sticking with the boundaries she set. I'm glad he has support from Zeke too. It was nice that Joel came around in the end.

Ep 15:
Victor really has done a turn-around since episode 13. He's like a completely different kid. It was sweet when he asked Sydney to come to his ceremony. I loved how everyone was at the ceremony talking about what role they'd play in his life.
While Mark is still super cute, I'm glad Sarah chose Hank. It's sad that Hank is moving away, but I had a feeling that would happen. It's interesting that he asked her to move there with him. Now that she's an empty-nester, I wonder if she'll take him up on his invitation.
I'm glad Kristina is cancer-free. I can understand why she was hesitant to go on a vacation, but I'm glad she ended up going in the end. I mean...Hawaii! Come on! I feel bad for her friend and hope she'll come out of this cancer free too.
I'm also glad that Crosby made up with Renee. I know it took a lot of sucking up his pride for him to do that. I'm so happy for him and Jasmine expecting another child. I was thinking they'd have twins, but I'm sure that won't happen. I got teary-eyed when they told Renee though.
I like how things are better now between Amber and Ryan and that he's getting his act together. I hope things stay on a steady path for them.
Very exciting for Drew with getting into Berkley. I didn't know that you could just get a college acceptance in a short online message. I guess that's the new way of doing things?

Overall, great season. Very powerful and emotional with incredible performances from everyone. I can't wait to start season five!

Thoughts on Season One
Thoughts on Season Two
Thoughts on Season Three

Less than a year to go....

I recently came across this article about 10 epiphanies you should have by age 40, which was perfect timing with my last year of my thirties laid out ahead of me. (As of today, only nine months to go!) I agree with some and disagree with others, so I wanted to share my thoughts on each of these items.


1. You are not a role. 

I definitely agree with this. I don't feel like I fit in any particular definition or stereotype.

2. Your weight is probably your weight.

I also agree with this sentiment, to an extent. Although I did lose the final post-baby pounds, I still fluctuate around a certain range and haven't really lost more since. However, I'm more comfortable with my body and am accepting of how I look at this point in my life. I don't plan to gain back what I lost and don't want to completely make-over my wardrobe for the sake of losing even more weight. I'm happy maintaining what I've worked to achieve.

3. 95% of what other people do has nothing to do with you.

I've always felt that and don't see a need to compare myself to other people. Everyone is at their own pace in life. Do I envy people who get to go on vacations whenever they want? Who doesn't?!? Still, life is not a race.

4. Your body is for you.

Definitely. I'd rather be comfortable than squeeze myself into Spanx or wear extremely uncomfortable shoes just to impress.

5. There's no "the one." By the time you're 40, you've fallen in love and you've fallen out of love and maybe in again. You change and what you want in a partner changes. Someone who was "the one" at 25 might not be anyone you'd want to spend even 30 seconds with at 40. It's okay to let that go and seek out someone new.

Disagree!!! I met my husband when I was 25 and still want to be with him forever.

6. You can get a lot of joy out of being ordinary. 

Given I'm content to just read a book, just like a huge chunk of the world's population, I would have to agree with this.

7. The people who show up are your real friends. 

Depends on how you define "show up." I can't see some of my closest friends in person all that often, due to distance. I would base this more on how often we communicate or how much of a presence they are in my life in general. I have stopped trying with the friends who can't seem to make any effort in return.

8. There's no algorithm that guarantees a perfect kid, or even a reasonably happy, well-adjusted kid. 
For sure. I sometimes worry that I'm screwing up my kids but then everyone tells me how nice and polite they are or how well they're doing in school. I do my best to show them that I love them, but also feel that I need to set boundaries now or I'll pay for it sometime in the future.

9. Friendships are fluid, and sometimes they're site- and time-specific. 
I can't say I have every single thing in common with my closest friends. Just like I can't say that I make friends with someone just because we're moms or work together or live on the same street. I have a certain "chemistry" with certain friends and have given up on trying to be someone I'm not to impress anyone else.

10. We are not hiding anything. We all try to put on a good face, to present our best selves. But you know how you can sense that other people are secretly very angry, or depressed, or basically happy but having a rough time right now? They can see the same thing about you. This goes doubly for our kids. Our kids will see us more clearly than we will ever see ourselves, and there's nothing we can do about that.
Should I be scared? I wonder what kind of impression I've been giving off lately....

You asked, I answer....

Some bloggers participated in the Sunshine Award, so I have decided to answer their questions, as well. If there are some missing, it means I already answered them in my own Sunshine Award post. (If you were nominated by me and have not yet participated, it's never too late and I'll gladly answer your questions in a future post if you let me know they're up and ready.)

He Said Books or Me

What is the name of a book that has changed your life?
She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb. It just motivated me a lot when I was in college.

What is something about you that makes you unique?
I gave birth to each of my kids in different states.

If you could only eat one food the rest of your life what would it be?
Ice cream! (I'm sure you thought I'd say chocolate, but some ice cream has chocolate pieces in it, so there!)

Do you have a nickname and if so, what is it?
Some people can call me Mel. I used to be called Magenta, but not anymore.

What is your favorite month and why?
October, since it's really the start of autumn. And I love pumpkin flavored things. (I don't do the pumpkin spice lattes, as I don't like coffee.)

Do you remember your dreams?
Yeah. Sometimes I wish I didn't.

What is something everyone likes that you don't like at all?
See my blog post about this.

What is the one (or few) beauty items you cannot live without?
Hair gel. Without it, my hair is insane. I also need conditioner every day. I like having a cover up stick available when I have those annoying little break-outs.

What advice do you have for new bloggers?
Blogging is not a competition. Have fun and make the blog something you're passionate about.

If you had next Monday off, what would you do with it?
By "off," do you mean I have the day completely to myself? If so, I'd go to my favorite thrift store. And then spend a lot of time reading. Also, I'd finally get a haircut!

Hello...Chick Lit

Most embarrassing moment of the year?
Nothing super embarrassing has happened so far, but the year is not over yet. I somewhat want to count when my daughter was talking about private parts really loud in a store. It was funny more than anything else.

What would be your dream job?
Professional reader. :)

What’s the last item you bought as a house decoration?
I don't really buy house decorations all that much. I got some Sukkah decorations recently, like fall-themed stickers and stuff.

Do you collect something? What and what got you started?
Yes. Books. Loving to read ever since I was a kid. :)

How many books do you own?
Too many to count!

Just a tiny percentage of my collection

What is your favorite holiday and why?
I like a mix of Jewish and secular holidays. For Jewish, I enjoy Purim and Sukkot, as well as Hanukkah. I wrote about them at my book blog. For secular, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Valentine's Day. (Some are more about candy than anything else though.)

What website do you find yourself on more than any other?
Facebook

What concerts have you been to?
Barenaked Ladies (twice, once with Alanis Morissette performing too), Wham, Michael Jackson (Thriller tour), Whitney Houston, New Kids on the Block, Dixie Chicks, Huey Lewis, Harry Connick, Jr.

How did you meet your ‘oldest’ friend and what keeps you friends?
Our moms met in lamaze class. Having our families stay friends. We don't really see each other as often, but when we do, it's always a nice time.

Which social media platform do you use most and why?
Facebook. It's the easiest way for me to stay connected with people. I also do most of the social media stuff for my blogs over there. It's not as complex as Twitter either.

The Book Chick

What is the last book that made you cry?
What is the last book that you've read that you just can't stop recommending?
Come Away with Me by Karma Brown is the answer to both questions.

What is your favourite children's movie?
Annie! (The original version.) I also love most Disney movies. Lately, it's been Wreck-It Ralph.

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be?
See my basket of trips post from earlier this year.

If you could have a superpower, what would it be?
Teleportation.

Choose from the following- what would you rather have: a maid, a personal chef, a personal trainer or a nanny?
Maid! I have a personal chef already. ;)

What is your favourite ice cream flavour?
Chocolate chip cookie dough.

Still the best version of this flavor!

Where is your favourite place to read?
Anywhere, as long as I have a good book. Really though, the couch in my living room is perfect!

What is your favourite Smartphone app?
Facebook messenger. I also enjoy Shazam for when I don't know what song is playing.

You've won the lottery- what's the first thing that you buy?
A new car!!!

You can have any pet you want- what do you choose?
Probably another beagle.

I cannot resist this face!

One Book at a Time

What was your last BIG MONEY purchase?
My family's trip to Disney World in 2013.

What was the best book you read so far this year?
The Ice Cream Queen of Orchard Street by Susan Jane Gilman. It was epic!

What is your favorite season and why?
Autumn. I love that the weather feels just right and the leaves changing color look so beautiful.

If you could be Best Friends with your favorite book character, who would you choose?
Becky Bloomwood from the "Shopaholic" series by Sophie Kinsella.

Do you love to cook, and if so what is your favorite recipe?
I enjoy baking more than cooking. There is a difference, as far as I'm concerned. I love making S'mores Pie as it is delicious. And I also love how my challah turns out. I just need to get around to baking more soon!

Have you ever thought about writing your own book?
Yes, but I can't get myself motivated to write it and the publishing process scares me a bit!

Do you read while you're at work and has your boss ever commented about it?
I read on my lunch break and I don't think my boss really notices one way or the other. Other people at work know how much I love to read and will recommend books or ask me for recommendations.

What is your favorite book genre?
If you don't know by now, then do you really know me at all? ;) (Hint, look to your right on this page and scroll up a bit if you don't see it right away.)

Do you prefer Coke or Pepsi? Or something completely different?
Iced tea! However, we got a Soda Stream and are addicted to that. The soda flavors that go with it are pretty good, especially the root beer.

My own questions
(Four of them were re-used, which I take as a compliment!)

Which TV show just needs to be cancelled already?
The Simpsons. I have a hard time believing anyone still watches this show and I don't know how they haven't completely run out of ideas.

What is your favorite 80s song?
"If You Leave" by OMD takes the top spot, but I really love soooo many songs!

What is something that never fails to make you laugh?
My favorite sitcoms (i.e. The Mindy Project and Modern Family) and inside jokes with my husband.

How long could you go without social media access?
Two or three days (at a time) at the most, and that's just when I'm completely offline for religious holidays (if they go right into Shabbat, it's three days altogether).

If you were to do a TED talk, what would it be about?
Book blogging, of course!

If you could give advice to someone who just graduated college and is ready for the real world, what would it be?
Life is not a race. Do what you feel works best for YOU and don't settle for someone or something, just because you feel pressure from others around you. There is no need to keep up with someone else's life.

What is something you do that you'd like to outsource?
Laundry. I feel like I'm constantly washing, drying, folding, sorting, etc. I sometimes help my kids put their laundry away, but mine tends to sit in a basket until our cleaning service does their monthly visit.

My basket is overflowing!

Feeding my inner child

Blog Project 3.0 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: Nostalgia

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 was inspired to choose this topic after hearing that Ed Debevic's, one of my favorite restaurants from my youth, is closing its iconic Chicago location. I know they're looking for a new location, but still...there was something about driving on Wells Street and just seeing it there. It was bad enough that the location in Deerfield shut down to become a Greek restaurant a long time ago. My family and I used to go to that location all the time. Still, the first time I went to Ed's was in Chicago and the waitress' name was Minnie, but my dad called her "Pot Pie" because she showed the special of the day on her shirt, right by her name tag. Oh, and we mustn't forget the World's Smallest Sundae!

My 11th birthday party at Ed's

In any case, Ed's was all about nostalgia. It used to be a throwback to the 1950s, but later started to encompass the 60s-80s. (And no, the 80s is not "oldies" for me, nor will it ever be!!!!)

Since I do like talking about nostalgia a lot, there are so many directions it could go. In honor of Ed Debevic's, I'm going to talk about favorite foods from my youth. Before I do, there are some other restaurants I want to mention. First of all, I love this page called Craig's Lost Chicago. It shows all these restaurants that are no longer around. I remember a bunch from my youth. I was also thinking about Farrell's, where we'd go on special occasions. They had this candy shop in the front of the restaurant. When they brought dessert out for a birthday or whatever, they'd put a sparkler on it and bang a drum. And then there was Wizard's, which made what Dairy Queen calls the "Blizzard." But that came after Wizard's started doing it. It was in a few malls and definitely a special treat after enduring a boring shopping trip. :) Speaking of malls, I used to always go to One-Potato-Two whenever I visited the food court. I loved their baked potato smothered in melted cheddar cheese.

*Rondos and Bon Bons: Bite size pieces of chocolate covered ice cream that were just so good. I remember getting Rondos on an airplane for dessert and was so excited because I loved them that much!

*Daiquiri Ice and Miami Ice: Some sherbet flavors I really enjoyed at Baskin Robbins. I think Miami Ice was only around for a short time in honor of Miami Vice.

*Peanut Butter Boppers: Logs of peanut butter covered with nuts and crisp rice. Some had chocolate in them too. I used to eat these every day with a cup of hot cocoa while watching Double Dare.

*Zeltzer Seltzer and New York Seltzer: For some reason, Sound Warehouse (a record store in the 80s) would sell Zeltzer Seltzer. It was just really good flavored seltzer water. New York Seltzer came around after Zeltzer was discontinued, but it wasn't the same.

*Pan fried Cantonese noodles: I can't seem to find these at a Kosher Chinese restaurant, so they are a thing of the past for me. I got them all the time at the Chinese restaurant where I worked for a few years. They were soooo good and I miss them.

*Planter's chocolate crisps: They were these little cookies that were shaped like peanuts and had chocolate filling. Apparently, they've been discontinued since 1995. They were so addictive.

*Chewels gum: These pieces of gum had this flavor burst inside once you bit into them. Like a liquid would come out.

*Ranch Ruffles: I loved these in seventh or eighth grade. I don't know why they stopped making them.

*Little ice cream cones with marshmallow topping: They used to be a treat that I'd get in goody bags at birthday parties. Later, I'd just buy them at Phar-Mor and go through a whole package easily.

*Push-Ups: The first time I had an Amaretto Stone Sour, it tasted like an orange Push-Up. It's amazing I didn't get drunk that night!

*Sara Lee lasagna: Before I kept Kosher, I loved Sara Lee's meat lasagna. It just tasted so incredible. We lived by a Sara Lee outlet store and would get it all the time.

I know this is only a handful of items. I was looking through food nostalgia posts online for others to see what I missed. A lot of the same things kept coming up. There were some crazy cereals that I apparently missed out on as a kid. I did enjoy Smurf Berry Crunch though. What Smurfs fan would I be otherwise?!? In any case, there are a lot of foods that anyone could become nostalgic over, but I just wanted to talk about the stuff I really enjoyed and miss now.

What foods make YOU nostalgic? I'd love to hear about them in the comments section. 

The "Sunshine" of my life

Thanks to Military Wife and Pug Life for nominating me (along with all her other blogger friends) for this fun award. I love Military Wife's blog and we have a lot in common.

Here are the rules:
1) Thank the person who nominated you. **See above.**
2) Share 11 random facts about yourself by answering the nominating blogger's questions.
3) Nominate 11 more bloggers and ask them 11 random questions.

1) What is your favorite fast food meal?
I don't get fast food much in the Kosher world, but there is a quasi-fast food Kosher place by us where I like to get burgers or fried chicken sometimes. Prior to keeping Kosher, a double cheeseburger and fries from Wendy's, followed by a Frosty.

2) What is the nicest thing anyone has ever done for you?
A lot of people have done nice things for me. Some that recently stand out...last year, a friend changed around her birthday plans so I could attend, as I wasn't available the night she originally wanted to go out. Also, my BFF brought over grape juice, challah, and candles so I could do some Shabbat rituals while sitting shiva for my grandma this past summer.

3) If you could have a free round trip ticket to anywhere, where would you go?
Australia.

4) What was your worst first date and why? 
I blogged about it here. 

5) What is your weirdest habit?
I sing all the time around the house.

6) If you knew you were losing your hearing tomorrow, what would you spend today listening to?
My husband and kids making me laugh, as well as their laughter. And then some of my favorite Broadway soundtracks if there's time left over.

7) Which three famous people would you like to invite to a private dinner party?
Mindy Kaling, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and Tatiana Maslany.

8) What was the last movie that made you cry?
Cinderella (the 2015 version). The same parts get to me every time.

9) Who would play your husband/wife or significant other in the movie of his/her life?
Jason Segel

10) What is your greatest strength?
Remembering lots of random details about people and their interests.

11) Quick, name three things you never leave your home without. 
Cell phone, keys, purse

Nominations (Going with some other book bloggers I know):
1. He Said Books or Me
2. Hello...Chick Lit
3. Book Perfume
4. The Book Chick
5. Books, Chocolate, and Wine
6. One Book at a Time
7. Traveling with T
8. Books I Think You Should Read
9. Always with a Book
10. Books Etc.
11. Mrs. Mommy Booknerd

Questions:
1. Which TV show just needs to be cancelled already?
2. What is your favorite 80s song?
3. What is something that never fails to make you laugh?
4. How long could you go without social media access?
5. If you were to do a TED talk, what would it be about?
6. What is your favorite month and why?
7. If you could give advice to someone who just graduated college and is ready for the real world, what would it be?
8. What is something everyone likes that you don't like at all?
9. What is the last book you read that you can't stop recommending?
10. What is something unique about yourself?
11. What is something you do that you'd like to outsource?

Zork!

Blog Project 3.0 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: Creative writing

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

At this point in time, I've just gotten through four weeks of various religious holidays and am currently lacking the motivation to write anything creative at the moment. That, and reading some amazing books that set the bar way high when it comes to writing anything at all. However, I have some special guests (also known as my sons), who are going to flex their creative muscles for everyone today.

The Lost Alien

Once upon a galaxy, there was an alien who lived on planet Zorkanog. On Zorkanog, everybody's name is Zork. All Zorks have sensitive feelings.
One day, Zork built a huge U.F.O.. Zork went to planet Earth along with two friends, Zork and Zork. They went to a state on planet Earth called Texas.
When the U.F.O. crashed onto the surface of Texas, Zork saw a shack a mile away with his super vision. With their super speed, the Zorks dashed to the shack. Zork ran into the shack and the other Zorks came in after Zork. Zork saw these humans with crazy hats. The crazy hatted people didn't like noticing unidentified creatures so they kicked all three Zorks out of the shack. When Zork turned back, the shack disappeared. Zork got upset so he started crying and running away. What Zork didn't notice was that super speed was making Zork farther away from Zork and Zork. 
Zork ran out of energy because of running and crying, so Zork settled down on a rock and the sand. Zork fell asleep for a few hours and when Zork woke up, it was midnight. The moon and the stars were shining brightly in the nighttime sky. When Zork thought all hope was lost, Zork saw a glowing path and a shimmering path. Zork didn't know what to do but luckily for his super vision, Zork was able to see what was at the end of the path. Past the glowing path, he couldn't see because it was too dark. At the shimmering path, he could make out two figures that were aqua green. It was the two other Zorks! Zork couldn't bear to be without his friends. Zork was so relieved that a burst of energy went right through the alien. Zork used his super speed to zoom all the way to his friends. 
All three Zorks eventually found their U.F.O and went back to Zorkanog and every Zork ended up being back on Zorkanog except another Zork, but that's a story for next time.

You can find my previous creative writing work here. I need a kick in the pants to get writing again, so if you have some general topic ideas I could do some short fiction pieces about, please feel free to leave them in the comments.

And if you want more "Zork" stories, my sons will gladly provide those for you.

The Doctor is (not currently) in

Blog Project 3.0 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, Darwin Shrugged chose the topic: Let's write about missed callings. Talk about about those jobs or paths you now realize might have been good choices, and why.

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

When I was in college, I started off in a special ed major before switching to psychology. However, after five years of college, I didn't want to be in school anymore and decided not to go to grad school for a counseling degree. Years later, I considered grad school, but I wasn't in the right place in my life to commit to it, as I wanted to start having kids. Therefore, I sometimes wonder if I would have made a good counselor or even a psychologist, if I had stuck on the path toward getting my Masters degree.

The thing is, I am good at counseling, so-to-speak. I am one of those people that others go to when they need a listening ear or some advice. During the summer of the year I got married, a close friend had a falling out with one of her friends. (I was in the same boat at the time, so I knew how she felt.) Anyway, she came over one night trying to figure out where and how things went wrong. I just listened to her and then gave her some advice that was more about focusing on herself and her own needs, as she rarely ever did that. After that time, she became more confident and a few years later, she met her husband. I don't know if I have anything to do with all of that, but I could definitely see a change once I suggested to her to take care of herself.

I also am the voice of reason and try to make people feel better about decisions (whether those are from my end or theirs). When my husband has a lot on his mind, I'm able to help him put things into perspective and then he feels less overwhelmed.

I've been told that the key to being a good counselor is having gone through counseling yourself. I will admit that I have sought counseling when I was in college. I had some legitimate reasons for doing so and felt it helped in some ways. I did both group and individual counseling at various times. The group counseling wasn't as effective, but I really liked the woman I saw for individual counseling. She was a graduate student at the time and I hope she has had a successful career since then. She's the kind of counselor I would have aspired to be like, had I stayed on this path.

Will I ever get back onto this path? I guess time will tell. I enjoy where I work and don't have the time or patience for graduate school right now. Maybe when my kids are older? Who knows? If it's meant to happen somewhere down the road, I'm sure it will.

The whole topic of psychology and counseling makes me think of this song from You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown. Enjoy!