Random Readings

• The Facebook Fast – Rock star blogger and author, Anne Jackson, gives up social media for Lent and explains that she believes online communication offers connection, but not community.
• Blood:Water Mission – Drink only water for 40 days (between March 1 and April 9) to help provide clean water for people in Africa. I’m doing it – will you?
• Her story, His words – I’ve only recently discovered Angie’s blog, Bring the Rain. If you haven’t met her yet, you can read her story here. This post brought me to tears as I consider the blessings God has given her and the work He’s doing through her – and how it’s all being made possible with Christian publishing.
• Renewing the View of You – Is it possible to leave the rubric of perfection behind for a day? This Gifted for Leadership article addresses the way we women are constantly judging and comparing ourselves. Here’s a snippet:
  

  “I know that comparison is a black hole of inadequacy, that there is not a more
  beautiful identity than fearfully and wonderfully made, that being bought at a
  price is the greatest expression of worth the world has ever known. . . And yet
  it never ceases to amaze me how we—smart, capable women—screw this up.”

• Top Websites to Visit When You’re Laid Off – Thanks to Worthington Wire for this relevant find. (And if you haven’t checked out that site, you should!!
• Why Facebook is for Old Fogies - Thanks to Heather for this one!

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Rockin' and Praisin' with Praise Baby

When my daughter was a newborn, my mom gave me several classical music CDs.

But we didn’t need them. No, we were all set – with Chicago’s Greatest Hits and a Chris Tomlin/Matt Redman mix tape. (Okay, technically it was a mix CD, but that doesn’t really have the same ring to it.)

See, I’d read in one of the many parenting books that graced my nightstand during those early months that babies need loud sounds in order to be soothed. In essence, my baby needed to rock out.

So Chicago it was. And…I have to admit…Air Supply. Don’t laugh! They rock…softly….

To read more, please see my post at Praise Baby.

Carnival Week: Flashback Friday

Can I be honest with you all? I think I can. So I'm going to tell you - I didn't feel like blogging today. I'm in the midst of making some big changes around here, plus discovering all sorts of bloggy and Twitter goodness (thanks to Blissdom) - and I just don't know if I can bring the funny today. So, please, people, just bear with me as I regale you with a tale from the past for Flashback Friday.

Thirteen years ago, I dragged Smitty to prom. To be more specific, Mark and I dragged her and her date, along with a few other couples, to prom. She will probably say that it was not fun. But based on the 2 1/2 pictures I was able to find last night, I can tell you one thing: that girl looked beautiful.

And that's the same as fun, right?

Well, maybe not, but I can't say I looked quite as hot. Actually, my hair looked quite ridiculous. It involved a banana clip, and that's all I'm saying about that.

Coerced or not, I do believe Smitty had a good time, despite what she'll tell you today. And you wanna know why? Because of my sweet dance moves.

That's right, friends. I busted a move that Saturday night.

I'd like to think it was similar to Baby's final performance with Johnny. Or something equally dramatic and impressive.

More likely, it was like watching Ben Stiller try to salsa with Jennifer Aniston. (Is there anything funnier than Ben Stiller's bad dancing? Oh, I'm sure, but it's cracking me up this morning!)

Here's an infamous exchange from that night:

Smitty: Um, hey, where'd you learn to dance like that?
Mary: What? That? It's nothing.
Smitty: I've just never seen you dance like that.
Mary: Yeah, I've been practicing. In the mirror.

Insert hysterical, though supportive and loving, laughter here. What are friends for if they can't mock you mercilessly?

Not to worry. I showed HER just three years later. When I busted a move again, this time thanks to a last-minute dance lesson.

At my wedding reception, my quiet, laidback dad and I did the rumba to Nat King Cole and Natalie Cole singing, "Unforgettable." The normal rumba, people, not the sexy kind you see on Dancing with the Stars!

We're not from that kind of small town.

Anyway. Here are a couple pictures from that dance. To say that we surprised a few people would be an understatement. I'm pretty sure the whole place was shocked to see Shy Tom and Uptight Mary twirling around the floor.

It was good stuff.




Care to share your favorite dancing memory with us? Go on...we won't laugh too hard! For more Flashback Friday, visit My Tiny Kingdom.


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Carnival Week: Things I Love Thursday

I love my VCR. Well, to be accurate, I love Mark's VCR. He saved up his allowance money long, long ago and bought this dinosaur.

Wait, how long ago? His allowance?

Yep, he bought this back in 1989. Or so he says. I guess he'd know. After all, it was a newfangled piece of technology and cost about a trillion dollars. That sort of thing tends to stick in a young boy's memory.

Even when he becomes a not-so-young boy.

So, this was before DVR? Before iPods? Before *gasp!* the Internet?

Yes, ma'am, this VCR became a member of our family before Mark and I even met. Before our daughter was even a twinkle in --

Well, you get the picture. The thing is old.

But you know what? The thing still works, bless her heart. We don't have DVR, and this little machine has kept up with my many TV obsessions quite well.

Lately, we've given her a break, watching most of our non-live shows online. But as of last week, I was still taping a few hours of TV each week.

She's been faithful, this VCR. And I love her.

To see more things that are loved, head over to The Diaper Diaries.

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Carnival Week: Works For Me Wednesday

In my ideal world, I practice Once a Month Cooking. Every four weeks or so, I buy groceries in bulk according to a full month’s menu and spend a day chopping, stirring, seasoning, simmering and otherwise cooking – filling up my freezer and providing my family with healthy, tasty meals.

In my real world, though, I’m doing good to throw together a couple meals a week and consider it a victory if I only visit the store once every several days.

Despite my hopes and wishes, I’ve had to come to grips with the fact that I am probably never going to be that kind of person.

So I compromise. I do what I can. When I make baked pasta, I double the recipe and freeze one pan. Same thing for mini meatloafs and cheesy potatoes.

But what makes the most difference in my daily struggle to put decent food on our table is browning several pounds of hamburger at once. I may not be able to commit an entire day to once a month cooking, but I can spare a couple hours to brown some beef and put it in the freezer. Because we get beef from my cattle farmer father-in-law, we eat a lot of meals made with hamburger. So this little trick makes that easier. Spaghetti, pizza, sloppy joes, tacos – all made in minutes, thanks to pre-cooked beef.

Once a month cooking may not work for me, but occasional bulk browning does work for me. For more Works for Me Wednesday, visit the carnival’s new home at We Are THAT Family.

And for those of you who are more together, more organized or just more interested in cooking for several hours on end, check out Once a Month Mom and Balancing Beauty & Bedlam.


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Carnival Week: Positive Post Tuesday

From what I can tell, Brody Harper started Positive Post Tuesday as a way to get people to encourage others. You know, to use the power of the blog for good and not evil.

Or something like that.

So today I want to tell you about someone I met at Blissdom. As I was waiting in the lobby for a cab to take me to meet Tam (yes, the meetup that did not happen, wahhh!), I found myself unintentionally eavesdropping on a couple other Blissdom attendees. One of them was Melanie Nelson, and when I finally and awkwardly introduced myself, she was completely sweet.

From my eavesdropping, I could tell she was a real tech guru. As a matter of fact, she's the brains behind Blogging Basics 101, a very helpful site for beginning bloggers.

My introduction to her was second only to meeting Shannon in awkwardness. (Remember that one? The time I rushed the stage like a rabid fan and then cried all over her about 10 seconds after saying, "Nice to meet you"? Remember? Yeah.)

And yet...when I e-mailed Melanie after getting home and realizing that buying my own domain was a little trickier than I thought (and/or that I was a little dumber about tech stuff than I thought - take your pick), she was so extremely nice and helpful and sweet.

She fixed my blog. Just like that. She doesn't really know me, but she helped me. And for that, I thank her. She is totally positive in my book!

Who's helped you out recently?

Carnival Week: Not Me Monday

My Charming Kids says, “Let's take our not-so-proud moments and spin them around in a delightful therapy session, shall we? This kind of therapy is free, funny, and oh so refreshing. Being brutally honest, and living to tell about it.”

So here goes…here’s my Not Me Monday:

• I did not laugh so hard that I cried telling Smitty about my Blissdom debut.
• I did not roll my eyes at the fourteenth co-worker who wanted to either commiserate about still being sick or chastise me for coming to work with my lingering cough.
• I did not eat half a pan of brownies in two days. (What? Lent starts this week, and I’m giving up chocolate!)
• I did not eat a very expensive steak dinner on our date night and then tell Mark that I think I like going to (the much cheaper) Lonestar Steakhouse better.
• I did not take advantage of my daughter spending the night at her uncle’s house by sleeping in so late we missed church.
• And I did not let Mark think the going away party for my manager at Archiver’s was at the store, when it was actually at our favorite restaurant.

Un-huh. Not me!

What about you? Anything you’d like to NOT confess to?

Carnival Week 2009

Photo by scilit

In honor of next week being Carnival Week, I'm going to participate in a blog carnival every day. Wanna join me?

• Monday: Not Me Monday at My Charming Kids
• Tuesday: Positive Post Tuesday at Brody Harper
• Wednesday: Works for Me Wednesday at We are THAT Family (formerly at Rocks in My Dryer)
• Thursday: Things I Love Thursday at The Diaper Diaries
• Friday: Flashback Friday at My Tiny Kingdom or Friday Funnies at The Run-a-Muck (I haven't decided yet!)

All right - who's in? Anyone? Anyone? (Buehler?)

Oh yes, they call him the streak. (Don’t look, Ethel!)

Lisa lived down the hall from me in my freshman dorm. Since I didn’t get along with my roommate at first, I was a bit desperate eager to make other friends. Lisa and her roommate quickly became the girls I hung out with.

We shared many special moments together, watching the guys across the hall play video games, sharing slightly dirty jokes and quizzes we’d received via the Electronic Mail (It was quite the newfangled technology back then!), and watching less-than-uplifting movies late into the night.

Later there would be laughter and tears, dances and parties, dreams and hopes, weddings and funerals – but let’s be honest. Those first few weeks were all about shallow, silly, just-got-away-from-our-parents fun.

Lisa and I weren’t super close, but we were part of a close group. And aside from a few disagreements (I’m sorry, but nobody should be allowed to listen to Insane Clown Posse at full volume. Nobody.), we got along well. So when it came time to choose roommates for our sophomore year, it made sense that she and I would room together, sharing a bathroom with two of our other girlfriends.

As you probably know, living together is different than being friends with someone. You’ve got the sleeping arrangements (you want to go to bed how early?), the study habits (you want to study how often?), and the dating protocols (you want me to make myself scarce because why?). You get to know a person, and notice things you might not have noticed before.

Like this:

“Ummmm, Mary, when did you dye your hair?”
“Huh, what?”
“Your hair! You’ve got a blonde streak! Has that always been there?”
“Oh yeah, that. Yup, since the day I was born. You hadn’t noticed?”

It’s true. I have a blonde streak in my otherwise plain brown hair. I have a lot of hair, so sometimes – apparently my entire freshman year – the streak gets buried. It’s a birthmark, a sign that God was feeling a little creative that day. My mom has one and, strangely enough, so does my dad’s mom. So pretty much I was doomed destined to have one.

And Lisa had never noticed it.

It’s not her fault, and I’m not saying she didn’t pay attention. Lots of people realize after knowing me (and, you’d assume, seeing the back of my head) for a while that I’ve got a funny stripe of blonde.

Some would say this explains some of my more bizarre behavior. I don’t know about that. But it does make me unique.

What makes you unique? And does your unique quality always show? Or does it take a while for people to notice? And how much do you love Ray Stevens?

Do you think elephants use mnemonic devices?

Something that amazes me is how we forget so much of our lives. Think about everything you learned in school. I bet it didn’t take you long, did it? Because, really, how much of that stuff do we really remember? (I’m looking at you, trigonometry!)

I’ve noticed that the few specific things I do remember learning almost always have some sort of trick to them, a mnemonic device, if you will. And, actually, even if you won’t.

Here are a few that I thought of off the top of my head. (I also found a bunch of examples, for those of you with plenty of time to waste today.)

• The names of the planets using this phrase: "My very excellent mother just served us nine pizzas.” (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Pluto) This was back in the day when Pluto was still a planet, of course.
• The colors of the rainbow using the name Roy G. Biv. (Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet)
• The Great Lakes using the acronym HOMES (Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, Superior)
• The classification system from biology class (I don’t know the technical terms. Maybe Smitty could help us?) using this phrase: “King Philip Came Over From Geneva, Switzerland.” (Kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species)

What memory tricks do you remember using in school? Do you use any memory tricks now?

Isn’t it romantic?

Photo by disneymike

In honor of the most commercial romantic day of the year, we celebrated with roses and chocolate barbecue and brownies.

My friend – and Mark’s cousin – Kimi (yes, we are very small-town around here) had a baby two days before Christmas. I’ve been wanting to visit and see the little guy since then, but this weekend was the first one that worked for both of us. And since we’re both broke married ladies with kids, it was understood that a family/friend night would not be interfering with any grand romantic plans.

So it was that we packed up the kid, picked up some barbecue and headed to our friends’ house for our Valentine’s Day date. Let’s see how the night ranked:

Great food? Check.
Good company? Check.
Sick kids? Check.

Yeah…it turns out that all of us were sick in some form. Croup, bronchitis, cold, upper respiratory junk. Whatever you call it, we had it. So, we kept our distance – no hugging, no holding the adorable new baby – and visited for a couple hours.

After letting the kiddo roam our friends' entire baby-proofed house (with the exception of some apparently tasty sidewalk chalk), we went home, put her to bed, and watched a couple TV shows we’d taped last week. (Yes, “taped.” I have a VCR, and I’m not afraid to use it. Still.)

And then we went to bed early. To sleep. And cough. And snore. (Isn’t being sick together fun, honey?)

So that was my romantic weekend. What about yours? Did you do anything fun? (Keep it family friendly, please!) Or, if you dare, share your best or worst Valentine’s Day story in the comments.

Prayer request update

Good news! A few weeks ago, I asked you to pray for my friend Katie's husband. They went to a cancer specialist for tests and have gotten the test results back. Here’s what Katie had to say:

What a blessing! John just got the call from the Orthopaedic Oncologist at MD Anderson, and he actually said that pathology has no idea what it is...so...Praise the Lord! It isn't sarcoma! AND at least there is no definitive answer that it would be cancer. On the other hand, they aren't going to declare that it is not cancer. The good sign is that his chest x-ray and CT scan came back clear, so there is no evidence that anything has spread to his organs! Another answered prayer!

I believe it is an answer to prayer...that doctors may not ever be able to explain! Thanks so much for all of your prayers and support!

They will travel back to Houston for the specialist to remove the growth from her husband’s arm, and I’m sure at that point there may be more tests and monitoring. But for now, we are rejoicing that he does not have a rare form of cancer, as they’d originally been told.

Thank you for praying for my friends!

Keepin' it Real, Housecleaning Style

Oh by the way, here's what my house looked like just a few days after having it professionally cleaned:

Oh, to have someone else to clean my house every week! What's your least favorite household chore?

I think I love you, so what am I so afraid of?

Cheeseburger Photo by Adam "Slice" Kuban / Fries Photo by roboppy

Dear Five Guys,

I love you.

Love, Mary

P.S. It was 31 points. Yes, I counted. And then I cried a little. But it was Totally. Worth it.

And now, the last Blissdom post on the Internet.

Shortly before I graduated from college, our school newspaper ran an article called “Roses and Thorns.” It was written by a guy in my class who I knew of, but didn’t really know. And it was about the best and worst parts of our fine university.

A few examples:

Roses: to Tutor’s Deli for being the best darn place to eat in Kirksville.
Thorns: to myself for not finding about Tutor’s Deli until this year.
Roses: to Sodexho for making tomato soup and grilled cheese at the same meal, just like Mom used to make.
Thorns: to Sodexho for crappy Premium Night.
Roses: to graduation in less than two weeks.
Thorns: to having to pay $15.00 to graduate in less than two weeks.

For some reason I cannot explain, this little article touched me. As you may have noticed, I do enjoy reminiscing, so maybe it’s that. And overall, I really loved my four years at college – the good, the bad, the hard, the fun – so maybe it was just a way to articulate those feelings. But for whatever reason, I have kept that article on my refrigerator ever since. In one apartment, two duplexes and finally our house. For almost eight years.

So in the spirit of that little article, I will now tell you about Blissdom.

Roses: to getting to go back to Nashville.
Thorns: to Hotel Preston for having cheesy décor, paper-thin walls, broken phones and faulty elevators.
Roses: to no flight delays and empty middle seats.
Roses: to me for walking up to a group of women I'd never met and asking if I could eat lunch with them. My hunger-based courage gave me the opportunity to meet some really great people.
Thorns: to me for freaking myself out and not connecting with many of the awesome women at the conference. My self-consciousness got in the way of making new friends, and that’s too bad.
Roses: to all the great sponsors who made the conference possible. (I love my Lands’ End bag and can’t wait to use my $50 Crocs gift certificate. And don’t get me started again on the Little Debbie Cakes!)
Roses: to Allison Worthington and One2One Network for making the conference possible.
Roses: to the panelists and “mavens” who so willingly shared their knowledge and experience with all of us.
Roses: to meeting Shannon of Rocks in My Dryer.
Thorns: to crying like a baby when I talked to her.
Roses: to Shannon telling me it was okay and acting like it really was.
Roses: to the sneak preview of Yanni Voices. Most of it wasn’t nearly as lame as it sounds. Although...I'm pretty sure Ender's dancing wasn't supposed to be funny...
Roses: to Disney for bringing two of the Voices, Nathan and Ender, to Blissdom.
Thorns: to the ladies who forgot they were married and swooned over Nathan and Ender. I’m not kidding, people. There were catcalls and video cameras and requests for stripping and a loooong line in the hallway for autographs and pictures. I’m not kidding.
Roses: to Nathan and Ender for being good sports.
Thorns: to me for not being prepared this year. I had no idea what I was getting into. I had no idea I should have blogging business cards. I had no idea.
Roses: to a chance to do it again next year at Blissdom ’10.

And just in case anyone out there is wondering what I actually learned at this conference, here’s the lineup of sessions I attended:

Friday

• Blogging 101 – Getting Started (Turns out, I was slightly over-qualified for this one and should have gone to the other session.)
• Social Media 101 – How to be a Social Media Success (I knew some of what they talked about, but this helped me really understand how social media fits into my life. And yeah, yeah, yeah, I heard you: I need to be on Twitter!)
• Cocktail Party (Not a session, but a fun little party. And by “fun little party,” I mean totally scary, crowded dark room full of giggling ladies in shiny shirts. But let me tell you – they made some very tasty Blisstinis!)
• Pajama Party (I heard this was fun, but I unfortunately skipped it. Thorns to me.)

Saturday

• Writing with Passion – Finding Your Voice (Excellent panel that spoke to the writing part of this hobby/business – hobness? busby?)
• Branding: You, Your Blog, Your Business (This is where I heard one of the best pieces of advice I got all weekend – whatever you do with your blog, OWN IT. Thanks, Megan!)

All right, I think that’s about it. (Ha! “About it,” like I didn’t just talk for-ev-er.) I’ll leave you with one thing, no, two:

• As Ender of Yanni Voices shared his musical background with us, he told us where he’s from (you know, just exactly in what country he learned to swivel his hips like that): “I am from Venezuela. That’s in South America.” Um...thanks, Ender.
• During the Q&A session with Nathan and Ender (because who wants to learn about blogging when there are not-yet-famous opera singers to ogle?), one woman requested the men sing Happy Birthday to a couple bloggers celebrating their big days that weekend. They wanted it in Spanish, but while Nathan reportedly speaks the language, he didn’t know that particular tune. Not to worry, ladies. “How about Portuguese?” he suggested. And so what did they do? Yup. Portuguese Happy Birthday. Yanni that.

It's My Party, and I'll Sparkle if I Want To

A couple weeks ago, I double checked with my parents that we were on for the weekend: they'd watch Photobaby while I was at Blissdom, then we'd all come over for dinner when I got home. (I knew I'd be exhausted, but Mom said dinner was for Valentine's Day, so hello? That means presents!)

As I got ready to leave for choir practice (Mom and Dad put Annalyn to bed and stay with her while I go to choir on Thursdays), my mom said, "I've been so good, but I have to say..."

And I thought, Great, what am I in trouble for now?

"Even if you're tired, you have to come to the house, Mary."

Umm...okay...?

"Mary, are you listening to me?"

"Yeah. We're coming to dinner."

"Mary. There is a Surprise. Party. Planned. For You." (Yeah, sometimes my mom talks in staccato, too.)

What do I say to that? I mean, my birthday was two months ago! And I'm going to Nashville! And...

"Well, you didn't need to tell me. We were going. To Come. To the House."

"Well, you need to know. In case your flight is delayed or something."

Because I could stop the flight from being delayed, on account of my surprise party that I know about?

Right.

So, I shoved all my belongings into my small suitcase, so I didn't have to check any luggage, and walked straight off the plane into Mark's truck. And we drove straight to my surprise party.

I'm still not sure if my cousins and aunts think I was actually surprised or not. I spent the first half hour of the night just trying not to puke. (I'm not a good flyer...did I mention that?)

But the party really was a good time and such a sweet thing for my mom to do. After all, that birthday a couple months ago was quite a big one. And it did get a tad bit overshadowed by the holiday festivities. And who can argue with junk food (Cherry Coke, pizza, chips and cheese dip, and M&Ms), a chick flick (Mamma Mia) and a manicure from my Nana.

And yes, I picked out the hot pink. And the sparkly glitter paint. It was my belated birthday, after all.

Getting Over The Sick

So many things to tell you! I still haven't processed everything from last weekend, so let me start with something easy.

Last week, Amy asked what our "sick system" is. You know, are you a chicken noodle soup person? Or perhaps a lay on the couch and watch infomercials gal?

I wasn't sure how to answer her question, because I hadn't been sick lately. Then Saturday night hit. And I remembered.

When I get sick, well, let's be honest. I prefer hard-hitting antibiotics from the doctor. But when that's not possible, thank you, virus-diagnosing nurse practitioner, I rely on this method:

Fruity Hall's cough drops + Tylenol cold caplets + plenty of Kleenex

When I'm sick, that's what works for me. Well, that and sleeping in the middle of the bed on a pile of pillows. What makes you feel better?

Out of commission.

Hey all. I haven’t forgotten about you. I came home from Blissdom with a cold…or the flu…or possibly a virus…I don’t know what it’s called, but it’s no fun. And oh yeah, Annalyn has it, too. So, I’ll be back soon. Until then, please pray that I don’t literally cough up a lung. Thanks.

Random Readings

It just so happens that most of my good finds for this week were about nerdy stuff - punctuation, word definitions, etc. So, go ahead and geek out with these random readings.

• Watch Yer Language reports that Birmingham, England is doing away with apostrophes. (I particularly like the AP Story that calls it an apostrophe catastrophe.)
• Brandilyn Collins talks about the Washington Post’s list of alternate definitions from 2008. These are really funny, although I was bummed when I couldn’t find a list for 2009.
• Buzzwhack is a site dedicated to de-mystifying buzzwords. (WARNING: If you can use more than three buzzwords in a single sentence while keeping a straight face, this site is not for you.)

I particularly liked these definitions from the Buzzwhack site:

• buzz.word (buz´wûrd) n. A usually important-sounding word or phrase used primarily to impress laypersons.
• buzz.whack.er (buz´wak er) n. A person who receives some degree of pleasure in bursting the bubbles of the pompous.

Heard any good buzzwords lately? A couple that I hear around my office are "turnkey" and "proprietary" - annoying, empty words that don't mean a thing. And they are used All. The. Time.

Chocolate is good, and other things I learned at Blissdom.

Day one of Blissdom is coming to an end…although I’m supposed to be headed to a cocktail party right about now. I’m a little overwhelmed by everything I’ve seen and heard today, though, so I thought I’d give you an update on what’s been going on.

First of all, in case you don’t know, Blissdom is a conference for women bloggers, hosted by Blissfully Domestic (an online magazine). This is the conference’s second year, and I’d guess there are about 150-200 women here.

So, my day started before the crack of dawn at 4:15. Let me just say this: I do not believe in seeing 4:00 twice in one day. It’s really against my beliefs. But I did it this morning and got myself to the airport and on the plane on time.

I was then thrilled to hear the pilot announce that we would have a brief delay while the plane was being de-iced. Excellent.

Once we were free of ice, the flight was uneventful – just how I like my flights. And as a bonus, the flight wasn’t full, so the sleeping guy by the window and I had a seat between us.

I got into Nashville bright and early, and my plan was to meet up with Brent and Tam, bloggy friends I’ve just started getting to know. I was super excited…and a little nervous, silly as that sounds.

Alas, it was not to be. Our schedules didn’t synch, and we didn’t get to hang out. I am bummed big time. I mean, I spent a lot of time debating the Hello Hug. You know – is it weird to hug someone that you’ve only “met” online when meeting them in real life?

For the record, Hodges, I had decided no, it was not weird. I would have hugged you.

As for the conference itself, I am definitely learning some things, and I hope you’ll see some changes around here in the next couple of months as I integrate all this new knowledge.

Until then, I’ll share with you the most important thing I’ve learned today:

Little Debbie 100 Calorie Snacks (Chocolate Cakes with Chocolate Icing) are ridiculously good. And tiny. But good. I should probably say delicious. Because that’s what they are.

So, if you can handle two bites of chocolatey heaven and be good for the day, well, these are for you. Me? Well, let’s just say I won’t be needing to find room in my bag for the box I got when I signed in this morning.

What’s up with you all today? Anything exciting planned for the weekend?

I'm Not Here Today.

I'm in Nashville at Blissdom, a women's blogging conference. I can't wait to tell you everything I learn!

Why do I wait? Or do I mean "weight"?

Last week, for about half a day, I thought I might be pregnant. (I’m not.) As my goal for losing weight this year is just as much about being healthy and prepared for another possible pregnancy (in the future, people, so don’t get any crazy ideas) as it is about lookin’ good, well, this possibility kind of freaked me out.

I know that the complications during my last pregnancy weren’t my fault and might have happened even if I’d been the picture of good health. But I also know my chances of a repeat performance are higher if I don’t lose weight.

So when I had this little episode last week, one of my first thoughts was, “Oh no! Now I won’t be able to lose weight!”

And then I thought, “Well, that’s okay. I’ll just start immediately walking every day and eating lots of fruits and vegetables. And I’ll be so healthy! Yay! I can do this! I will do this!”

And then…then, I thought, “Hunh. Wonder why I couldn’t be this motivated before? Back when it wasn’t too late?”

I mean, really. Why is it that when the time is perfect for doing the right thing, I don’t do it. It’s only when I’m face to face with the consequences of my laziness, my lack of motivation, my sin – it’s then that I’m finally able to find within me the commitment to doing that right thing.

But sometimes it’s too late. Why don’t I act before it’s too late?

Does anyone else have this problem?

I know for me it doesn’t just apply to healthy eating and exercise. This happens with finances and how I talk to my husband and spending enough time with my family and finishing work projects and sharing my faith with a friend and, well, the list is quite long, now that I think about it.

What about you? What do you find yourself waiting – possibly too long – to do? And if you have mastered this habit, how do you motivate yourself before it’s too late?

So you're saying "squeaky clean" is a bad thing?

In December, I was fortunate enough to get a 30-minute facial at a spa. And by “fortunate enough,” I mean that I told Mark exactly what I wanted for my birthday – a massage and a facial – and he agreed…to let me schedule it for anytime after my birthday.

The facial was nice, especially when the woman working on my face told me I had firm, young-looking skin. That was nice. I’m not sure if I paid more for that or not, but if so, it was worth it.

Anyway – the part of the treatment that wasn’t as nice was when the aesthetician (facial lady) asked me about my skincare routine.

Knowing full and well she wasn’t going to like my answer, I told her the truth nevertheless: I use Clean & Clear to wash and moisturize my face, just like every good 14-year-old.

What? I’m not a teenager anymore? And that’s not healthy for my skin? Really?

Really.

After getting a lecture and a sales pitch for some pricey spa products, I left the spa. My face was very clean and also, I was told, completely protected against the elements. Personally, I was just a little embarrassed to be going out in public without any makeup on.

And wondering if I’m really doing damage to my face by using products designed for teens that I buy at Walmart.

Here’s the thing, though. I realize I should probably upgrade my skincare. I understand that I’m not getting any younger and any day now, my skin is going to realize that and start looking the part of a, ahem, 30-year-old. I should visit the Clinique counter…or my friend’s Mary Kay site…or try one of the bajillions of Oil of Olay products I see commercials for every night…or something.

But Clean & Clear works for me. It makes my face feel clean at night and not so dry in the morning.

So there’s my dilemma: the facial lady says to change, but I don’t want to. What do you think? Am I missing out on some fabulous, affordable skincare line? What do you use?

For more tips on what works today, visit Rocks in My Dryer.

I'm not insightful enough to be a movie critic.

Maybe I could be a food critic. These muffins taste bad. Or an art critic. That painting is bad.
~ Andy Bernard, The Office

I’d like to think I’m a bit more insightful than Andy Bernard. However, just in case I’m not, I won’t call what I’m about to present “criticism.” Besides, “criticism” just sounds so negative, doesn’t it?

No, what I’m offering you today is just a review smorgasbord. Or a review montage. Okay, so it’s just a review of three random things. Ready?

First – the movie. Smitty and I watched Becoming Jane on Friday. As I noted on Facebook, it made me glad to be born in 1978, not 1778. Without getting all spoilery on you, the movie is about Jane Austen and her romance with a poor but charming lawyer before becoming a published author. From what I’ve read, the movie is very loosely based on what may possibly be a true story. I took it for fiction and enjoyed it.

And reminded me that I am likely the only person alive who has not watched Pride and Prejudice. Or read it. How embarrassing.

Second – the book. Several months ago, I started hearing about this Christian vampire book. While I wasn’t interested in reading about vampires (sorry, Twilight fans), I was intrigued by the book’s back story. I learned that the author, John Olson, wrote his first novel only to be told by his future agent, “I wouldn’t touch that with a sixty foot pole.”

Thankfully for Olson and his readers, the Christian fiction market has changed since then. Shade was published last year, and I read it in January. If you like paranormal stuff – think Frank Peretti or Ted Dekker – you’ll like this one. Olson created a believable main character with authentic character quirks, and a creepy situation for her to face. I’m not sure the end was tied up as neatly as I prefer, but maybe that’s the point: life, especially when dealing with the paranormal, has loose ends and unanswered questions.

I recommend this book, as well as reading about the book’s own story here and here.

Third – the TV show. Ed was the first TV show that Mark and I got hooked on together. So it has special meaning for us. So much so that we call Tom Cavanaugh “Ed,” no matter what his character is named in any new show.

When we saw that our beloved “Ed” was starring in a new show on TNT, along with another funny guy who I still call by his TV name, Will (Eric McCormack for those of you who like to call people by their real names), we knew we had to watch it. Even better, it’s about advertising.

Trust Me aired its first episode last Monday; we watched it over the weekend. I laughed a lot, but mainly because I recognized the environment and the situations the characters found themselves in, thanks to my time in an ad agency. I think the show has potential, and I’m going to watch it again. Ed and Will are both talented, quick-witted and fast-talking actors – and I like that sort of thing. One warning, though: apparently, the FCC allows pretty, um, colorful language at 9 p.m. on a Monday night. Even that, though, was a realistic portrayal of the world the characters live and work in.

There you have it. A review for you, no matter what your preferred medium. Unless you prefer radio, and then I’ve got nothing.

Do you think you have what it takes to be a movie critic? Do you think it would be fun to be a food critic? Did you know four-letter words are allowed on cable after 9?

I didn't know Daisy was dating.

Yes, I am aware that the Superbowl is actually a football game, and the main attraction is - or at least, is supposed to be - the competition between two teams.

But come on! You know it's all about the commercials!

My pick for the winner? Bridgestone, who had two funny and original spots, one with Mr. & Mrs. Potato Head and another with astronauts. What do toys and outer space have to do with tires? Umm, nothing, but they were still funny.



Second runner up, in my opinion, goes to the Budweiser horse commercials. Cute, funny and memorable - the perfect combo for a Superbowl campaign. (See them here, here and here.)

And the loser in the big game? Definitely GoDaddy.com. Congratulations to them for continuing their legacy of being crude and juvenile. And way to go, Danica Patrick, for playing along. Two thumbs down.

Just in case you missed a few commercials (loading up on cheese dip maybe...or was that just me?), go HERE to watch all the Superbowl ads.

What were your favorite commercials this year?