Friday, November 25, 2011
No Funny Friday today
I'm taking off to relax during the holiday weekend. Check back in December. :)
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Thankful in 2011
I like to post what I'm thankful for every year, so I will just cut to the chase and share my list.
1. My amazing husband whom I’ve known for almost 10 years.
2. My sons who make me smile every day, even when they drive me crazy sometimes.
3. My daughter who was a surprise for me because I was expecting another boy. She has the best smile and laugh and I melt when I look into her sweet little eyes.
4. My family, both immediate and extended.
5. My friends. They’re all wonderful whether they live near or far.
6. Chick Lit Central. It has taken off to new heights since I started it almost a year and a half ago. We have a good team now and lots of fabulous authors who give us their time and share their books. Our readers are all enthusiastic and participate a lot, which keeps us going strong. We have 600 blog followers now!
7. My house, especially now that it looks a little better in some parts. :)
8. My job. Especially now that we have a new CEO who brings a lot of great ideas and enthusiasm to the organization. He’s also very inspiring to me on a more personal level.
9. “How I Met Your Mother” because it makes me laugh all the time and I just love it to pieces! All the characters bring their own unique style to the show and make for a hard to beat ensemble!
10. That the hurricane and earthquake this past summer didn’t hit us too hard or cause any damages or injuries to anyone nearby (or to those I care about).
And most of all....Hashem for making all this possible in the first place!
Happy Thanksgiving to those of you in the US!
1. My amazing husband whom I’ve known for almost 10 years.
2. My sons who make me smile every day, even when they drive me crazy sometimes.
3. My daughter who was a surprise for me because I was expecting another boy. She has the best smile and laugh and I melt when I look into her sweet little eyes.
4. My family, both immediate and extended.
5. My friends. They’re all wonderful whether they live near or far.
6. Chick Lit Central. It has taken off to new heights since I started it almost a year and a half ago. We have a good team now and lots of fabulous authors who give us their time and share their books. Our readers are all enthusiastic and participate a lot, which keeps us going strong. We have 600 blog followers now!
7. My house, especially now that it looks a little better in some parts. :)
8. My job. Especially now that we have a new CEO who brings a lot of great ideas and enthusiasm to the organization. He’s also very inspiring to me on a more personal level.
9. “How I Met Your Mother” because it makes me laugh all the time and I just love it to pieces! All the characters bring their own unique style to the show and make for a hard to beat ensemble!
10. That the hurricane and earthquake this past summer didn’t hit us too hard or cause any damages or injuries to anyone nearby (or to those I care about).
And most of all....Hashem for making all this possible in the first place!
Happy Thanksgiving to those of you in the US!
Talking to myself
Remember the blog project I did last year with three other women? Well, Froggie decided to resurrect it with me and we each got to invite another friend to join us. She invited a mutual friend (someone I met through her) and I invited a friend whose blog I really enjoy reading. So now it's Froggie, Mom of Many, Moma Rock and Merrylandgirl. Hope you enjoy the topics that we'll be exploring!
This week, Mom of Many picked the topic: If you could have lunch with your 10 year older self, what would you talk about?
Before reading ahead, first see what everyone else had to say on this topic:
Froggie
Mom of Many
Moma Rock
A few months ago, I took a look at who I am now in comparison with 10 years ago. So much has happened in that span of time. I can only imagine what the next 10 years has in store!
I can only imagine what the 45 (yes, I said 45) year-old version of me would say about how I currently live my life. She would probably make the following observations:
* I am delusional. I only say this because I think younger versions of myself were totally delusional. Like I can't believe I thought I was somehow cool at those previous ages. Maybe it's due to me living a different lifestyle than I did when I was younger, but nonetheless....
*I am a control freak. Well, I AM! I don't like giving up control of things and have a hard time delegating as a result.
*I have a great sense of humor. If I liked my sense of humor from 10 years ago, I still will like my sense of humor 10 years later. I love to laugh and get annoyed when I'm expecting something to be funny and it isn't. I only hope there is more to laugh about in the world of entertainment 10 years from now, but if my 45 year-old self can still laugh, then I'm not worried.
*I'm disorganized. Like that's such a shock to anyone. I'm also a pack rat/hoarder and will one day become like my late maternal grandmother if I'm not careful.
*I tend to get all fired up when I don't need to. If I don't watch it, I'll turn into Susie from "Curb Your Enthusiasm," minus the swearing.
*I compare myself to TV characters all the time. If it's not the women from "Desperate Housewives," it's Betty from "Ugly Betty," or Claire from "Modern Family," or Lily from "How I Met Your Mother." I even have a bit of Rachel from "Glee" in me.
I have to wonder if I'm still this way, but "future me" has kept a tight lid on all future information thus far. She also has the following advice for me:
*Let them be little. I try to push my kids to grow up too quickly and I need to just sit back and let them be kids. They're only little once.
*Stay in touch with my friends. Make some time every day to write a few e-mails or make a call, even if it's by Skype.
*Put my photos in albums. I have so many blank albums and boxes of photos. The two need to merge. I also shouldn't rely on Facebook as my go-to photo album. Tangible is always better!
*Stop trying to do it all. Take some more real "me time" before I burn out.
*Stop apologizing for what I have accomplished in life. Just enjoy it.
*It's okay to pay retail price every once in a while. No harm in looking nice!
*Try some new foods. You may surprise yourself by liking them.
"Future me" would not tell me anything I really wanted to know. She knows how much I love being surprised and HATE spoilers of any kind. (Why else would I refuse to find out the gender of all three of my kids prior to their births?) She told me that it might also effect what I choose to do for the future and she doesn't want me changing the course of things to come. She wants me to let things happen as they happen.
I suppose I have to be satisfied with the advice she gave me for now and do what she said. It will be interesting to see if things turn out the same way as a result. Although it was suggested that we have lunch together, we talked by phone instead, which is kind of amusing if you know how much I don't like talking on the phone. Therefore, I don't know how I will look in ten years (as again, I won't give myself any "spoilers"). Considering someone younger than me told me I looked 25 (can you believe it?!?), I can only hope that I look like I'm 35 when I'm 45! That may be difficult with all these gray hairs coming in!
This week, Mom of Many picked the topic: If you could have lunch with your 10 year older self, what would you talk about?
Before reading ahead, first see what everyone else had to say on this topic:
Froggie
Mom of Many
Moma Rock
A few months ago, I took a look at who I am now in comparison with 10 years ago. So much has happened in that span of time. I can only imagine what the next 10 years has in store!
I can only imagine what the 45 (yes, I said 45) year-old version of me would say about how I currently live my life. She would probably make the following observations:
* I am delusional. I only say this because I think younger versions of myself were totally delusional. Like I can't believe I thought I was somehow cool at those previous ages. Maybe it's due to me living a different lifestyle than I did when I was younger, but nonetheless....
*I am a control freak. Well, I AM! I don't like giving up control of things and have a hard time delegating as a result.
*I have a great sense of humor. If I liked my sense of humor from 10 years ago, I still will like my sense of humor 10 years later. I love to laugh and get annoyed when I'm expecting something to be funny and it isn't. I only hope there is more to laugh about in the world of entertainment 10 years from now, but if my 45 year-old self can still laugh, then I'm not worried.
*I'm disorganized. Like that's such a shock to anyone. I'm also a pack rat/hoarder and will one day become like my late maternal grandmother if I'm not careful.
*I tend to get all fired up when I don't need to. If I don't watch it, I'll turn into Susie from "Curb Your Enthusiasm," minus the swearing.
*I compare myself to TV characters all the time. If it's not the women from "Desperate Housewives," it's Betty from "Ugly Betty," or Claire from "Modern Family," or Lily from "How I Met Your Mother." I even have a bit of Rachel from "Glee" in me.
I have to wonder if I'm still this way, but "future me" has kept a tight lid on all future information thus far. She also has the following advice for me:
*Let them be little. I try to push my kids to grow up too quickly and I need to just sit back and let them be kids. They're only little once.
*Stay in touch with my friends. Make some time every day to write a few e-mails or make a call, even if it's by Skype.
*Put my photos in albums. I have so many blank albums and boxes of photos. The two need to merge. I also shouldn't rely on Facebook as my go-to photo album. Tangible is always better!
*Stop trying to do it all. Take some more real "me time" before I burn out.
*Stop apologizing for what I have accomplished in life. Just enjoy it.
*It's okay to pay retail price every once in a while. No harm in looking nice!
*Try some new foods. You may surprise yourself by liking them.
"Future me" would not tell me anything I really wanted to know. She knows how much I love being surprised and HATE spoilers of any kind. (Why else would I refuse to find out the gender of all three of my kids prior to their births?) She told me that it might also effect what I choose to do for the future and she doesn't want me changing the course of things to come. She wants me to let things happen as they happen.
I suppose I have to be satisfied with the advice she gave me for now and do what she said. It will be interesting to see if things turn out the same way as a result. Although it was suggested that we have lunch together, we talked by phone instead, which is kind of amusing if you know how much I don't like talking on the phone. Therefore, I don't know how I will look in ten years (as again, I won't give myself any "spoilers"). Considering someone younger than me told me I looked 25 (can you believe it?!?), I can only hope that I look like I'm 35 when I'm 45! That may be difficult with all these gray hairs coming in!
Friday, November 18, 2011
Funny Friday-11/18/11-Be our "Guest"
Back in 1997, I was hanging out with a close friend one afternoon, when we saw that "Waiting for Guffman" was playing at a nearby theater. We had heard that it was going to be funny and decided to check it out. It turned out to be a total riot!
I recently found a DVD of "Waiting..." at my favorite thrift store and snatched it up right away, as I only had it on VHS. It is such a hilarious movie that has inspired several inside jokes, including one where my friends would get me a cake that said "Everybody dance!"
"Waiting for Guffman" is a mockumentary about a small town putting on a play and finding out that a famous producer was going to be there to see it. It stars Christopher Guest as Corky St. Clair, this obviously gay man who claims to have a wife. It also stars Fred Willard, Catherine O'Hara, Eugene Levy and Parker Posey, who all star in the mockumentaries made after "Waiting..." ("Best in Show," "A Mighty Wind," "For Your Consideration").
What works about "Waiting for Guffman" is the dialogue and witty humor throughout. The buildup to the night of the big show is so entertaining and the show is cheesy in such a funny way that it is worth the wait. It's not to be missed!
I enjoyed the other movies from this mockumentary team, but not as much as "Waiting..." However, "A Mighty Wind" comes close, as it is also really funny (Jane Lynch is in it too). And "For Your Consideration" would have been better if it didn't have such a disappointing ending. (I liked the concept of "Home for Purim" but didn't like what they did with it....that's all I'll say though.) "Best in Show" was cute, but I've only seen it once. Maybe I need to see it again to appreciate it more. And since Jane Lynch is also in that one, I wouldn't mind. I know "This is Spinal Tap" also features members of this comedy team, but I haven't seen it yet. I never knew it was a mockumentary until years later.
Anyway, I highly recommend "Waiting for Guffman" and think you might also enjoy one of the other films from this fabulous comedy team. If you don't believe me, I'm going to go home and bite my pillow. Until then I'll leave you with this final thought..."Everybody dance!"
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Almost paradise
Remember the blog project I did last year with three other women? Well, Froggie decided to resurrect it with me and we each got to invite another friend to join us. She invited a mutual friend (someone I met through her) and I invited a friend whose blog I really enjoy reading. So now it's Froggie, Mom of Many, Moma Rock and Merrylandgirl. Hope you enjoy the topics that we'll be exploring!
This week, I picked the topic: What is one thing you have never done but really want to do?
Before reading ahead, first see what everyone else had to say on this topic:
Froggie
Mom of Many
Moma Rock
What do the Brady Bunch, the Full House crew and the Bayside High gang have in common? Well, aside from being a group of three girls and three boys (or men), they have all gone on a trip to Hawaii. The closest I've gotten to Hawaii (aside from watching "50 First Dates" more times than I can count) is a luau party and drinks at Hala Kahiki for my 30th birthday. For those of you who don't know, Hala Kahiki is in CHICAGO. It's a little Hawaiian themed bar with some amazing mixed drinks. But that's not important right now. What's important here is that I've never traveled to Hawaii. And I really want to go there!
I had recently had some sort of epiphany that there is the possibility that I could die one day (when I'm way older, of course) and never have been to Hawaii. The thought freaked me out. I'm sure there will be a lot of places that I never get to visit in my lifetime, but I hate the thought of missing out on such a beautiful place. All I know of Hawaii is really from movies, TV shows, books and pictures my friends took on their trips there. One of my friends grew up in Hawaii, so he's had plenty of time to see it all. It seems like such a tropical paradise. Don't get me wrong, I've been to islands before. I've been on Caribbean cruises and went to St. Lucia for my honeymoon. Still, Hawaii beckons to me like some unknown force. I could see myself spending my days touring the islands and relaxing on the beach with a tropical drink. I think it would be fun to experience a real luau, as long as there is no pig eating involved!
I know I talk a lot about wanting to go to Disney World, a tour of Europe and another cruise or two. So my desire to go to Hawaii may come as quite a surprise. I just know that I would LOVE to experience all of Hawaii hands on. I wouldn't even mind taking the kids on such a trip, if we could all survive a long flight to get there in the first place. Times like these are when I really wish I could teleport!
A hui hou, mahalo for reading this!
This week, I picked the topic: What is one thing you have never done but really want to do?
Before reading ahead, first see what everyone else had to say on this topic:
Froggie
Mom of Many
Moma Rock
What do the Brady Bunch, the Full House crew and the Bayside High gang have in common? Well, aside from being a group of three girls and three boys (or men), they have all gone on a trip to Hawaii. The closest I've gotten to Hawaii (aside from watching "50 First Dates" more times than I can count) is a luau party and drinks at Hala Kahiki for my 30th birthday. For those of you who don't know, Hala Kahiki is in CHICAGO. It's a little Hawaiian themed bar with some amazing mixed drinks. But that's not important right now. What's important here is that I've never traveled to Hawaii. And I really want to go there!
I had recently had some sort of epiphany that there is the possibility that I could die one day (when I'm way older, of course) and never have been to Hawaii. The thought freaked me out. I'm sure there will be a lot of places that I never get to visit in my lifetime, but I hate the thought of missing out on such a beautiful place. All I know of Hawaii is really from movies, TV shows, books and pictures my friends took on their trips there. One of my friends grew up in Hawaii, so he's had plenty of time to see it all. It seems like such a tropical paradise. Don't get me wrong, I've been to islands before. I've been on Caribbean cruises and went to St. Lucia for my honeymoon. Still, Hawaii beckons to me like some unknown force. I could see myself spending my days touring the islands and relaxing on the beach with a tropical drink. I think it would be fun to experience a real luau, as long as there is no pig eating involved!
I know I talk a lot about wanting to go to Disney World, a tour of Europe and another cruise or two. So my desire to go to Hawaii may come as quite a surprise. I just know that I would LOVE to experience all of Hawaii hands on. I wouldn't even mind taking the kids on such a trip, if we could all survive a long flight to get there in the first place. Times like these are when I really wish I could teleport!
A hui hou, mahalo for reading this!
Friday, November 11, 2011
Funny Friday-11/11/11--Movie Mayhem
I don't have a lot of time to work on Funny Friday posts like I did in the past, but I wanted to share a list of movies that I always find hilarious.
"Moving Violations"
"Airplane!"
"Billy Madison" and "Happy Gilmore"
"There's Something About Mary"
"Grandma's Boy" (You'll only get why if you see for yourself)
"History of the World, Part I"
"Clerks 2" (It's just funnier than "Clerks" for some reason)
"Ferris Bueller's Day Off"
"Home Alone" (There's something funny about grown men being outsmarted by a kid.)
"UHF" (I can't listen to "Money for Nothing" without thinking of "Beverly Hillbillies." And don't forget about a very young KRAMER!)
"National Lampoon's Vacation"
"The Ugly Truth" (The restaurant scene just takes the cake!)
"Office Space"
"American Pie 2" (This was just the funniest out of the three.)
"Naked Gun 2 1/2" (Same thing from above applies here.)
"Waiting for Guffman"
I'm sure I'll think of others after this is posted, but these are the ones that stick out.
"Moving Violations"
"Airplane!"
"Billy Madison" and "Happy Gilmore"
"There's Something About Mary"
"Grandma's Boy" (You'll only get why if you see for yourself)
"History of the World, Part I"
"Clerks 2" (It's just funnier than "Clerks" for some reason)
"Ferris Bueller's Day Off"
"Home Alone" (There's something funny about grown men being outsmarted by a kid.)
"UHF" (I can't listen to "Money for Nothing" without thinking of "Beverly Hillbillies." And don't forget about a very young KRAMER!)
"National Lampoon's Vacation"
"The Ugly Truth" (The restaurant scene just takes the cake!)
"Office Space"
"American Pie 2" (This was just the funniest out of the three.)
"Naked Gun 2 1/2" (Same thing from above applies here.)
"Waiting for Guffman"
I'm sure I'll think of others after this is posted, but these are the ones that stick out.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Who wears short shorts? (Not me!)
Remember the blog project I did last year with three other women? Well, Froggie decided to resurrect it with me and we each got to invite another friend to join us. She invited a mutual friend (someone I met through her) and I invited a friend whose blog I really enjoy reading. So now it's Froggie, Mom of Many, Moma Rock and Merrylandgirl. Hope you enjoy the topics that we'll be exploring!
This week, Moma Rock (inspired by a pair of "jeggings") picked the topic: What is something (or a bunch of things if you are so inclined) you wouldn't be caught dead wearing?
Before reading ahead, first see what everyone else had to say on this topic:
Froggie
Mom of Many
Moma Rock
I used to wear shorts all the time. In high school, I'd wear them over tights in the winter. A majority of my wardrobe involved shorts in some way or another. When I moved to a more observant Jewish community in 2007, I was still wearing shorts during the summer. It was really hot out and they were the only things that felt comfortable in our house with very little air conditioning.
That all changed in 2008. I felt out of place wearing shorts in an observant community and decided to get rid of my collection. I would only wear skirts or pants during the summer. I figured that women who are even more observant than I am could wear long sleeves and long skirts during the hot summer months, I could deal with not wearing shorts anymore. I was also working at a job where it would have been inappropriate to show up in shorts. I soon fell into a comfortable routine with my new clothing decision. Not wearing shorts didn't bother me at all.
It has been three years since I made that decision and I don't even miss wearing shorts now. I sometimes wear them to work out in the privacy of my home, but I usually prefer sweatpants, even in the summer. I don't really have a need for shorts though. I wear skirts, dresses or pants to work. I wear skirts or dresses on Shabbat and holidays. I wear jeans or denim skirts on days off and Sundays. Shorts are a thing of the past to me. I'd almost feel foolish wearing them now, like I wasn't meant to wear them. They're not a part of my personality anymore, if that makes any sense.
I don't know that I could go the full distance when it comes to modest dressing. I'm glad my community is Modern Orthodox and most of the women wear short sleeves in the summer. I don't think I could give up my short sleeved shirts and dresses. I would get too hot in long sleeves all the time. Every season has a dress code and I'm sticking with what is comfortable within reason. In any case, while I do cover my hair on Shabbat and holidays, I would never be caught dead in a sheitel (wig). I understand the reasons behind a sheitel, but I tried one on for fun once and it looked horrible on me. Another reason I'm glad about the flexibility in my community!
Oh yeah, and I would never wear a snuggie, but that's because they look ridiculous to me. Just give me a good old-fashioned blanket anyday!
This week, Moma Rock (inspired by a pair of "jeggings") picked the topic: What is something (or a bunch of things if you are so inclined) you wouldn't be caught dead wearing?
Before reading ahead, first see what everyone else had to say on this topic:
Froggie
Mom of Many
Moma Rock
I used to wear shorts all the time. In high school, I'd wear them over tights in the winter. A majority of my wardrobe involved shorts in some way or another. When I moved to a more observant Jewish community in 2007, I was still wearing shorts during the summer. It was really hot out and they were the only things that felt comfortable in our house with very little air conditioning.
That all changed in 2008. I felt out of place wearing shorts in an observant community and decided to get rid of my collection. I would only wear skirts or pants during the summer. I figured that women who are even more observant than I am could wear long sleeves and long skirts during the hot summer months, I could deal with not wearing shorts anymore. I was also working at a job where it would have been inappropriate to show up in shorts. I soon fell into a comfortable routine with my new clothing decision. Not wearing shorts didn't bother me at all.
It has been three years since I made that decision and I don't even miss wearing shorts now. I sometimes wear them to work out in the privacy of my home, but I usually prefer sweatpants, even in the summer. I don't really have a need for shorts though. I wear skirts, dresses or pants to work. I wear skirts or dresses on Shabbat and holidays. I wear jeans or denim skirts on days off and Sundays. Shorts are a thing of the past to me. I'd almost feel foolish wearing them now, like I wasn't meant to wear them. They're not a part of my personality anymore, if that makes any sense.
I don't know that I could go the full distance when it comes to modest dressing. I'm glad my community is Modern Orthodox and most of the women wear short sleeves in the summer. I don't think I could give up my short sleeved shirts and dresses. I would get too hot in long sleeves all the time. Every season has a dress code and I'm sticking with what is comfortable within reason. In any case, while I do cover my hair on Shabbat and holidays, I would never be caught dead in a sheitel (wig). I understand the reasons behind a sheitel, but I tried one on for fun once and it looked horrible on me. Another reason I'm glad about the flexibility in my community!
Oh yeah, and I would never wear a snuggie, but that's because they look ridiculous to me. Just give me a good old-fashioned blanket anyday!
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