Becoming a crazy coupon lady

Look, I like saving money. And I never manage to stick within my grocery budget. Yet, somehow, I really have not been interested in becoming one of those coupon ladies.

Why, then, did I find myself at a Coupon Party on Friday night, learning the ins and outs of saving money on groceries?

Mainly because of the saving money part. But also because a girls night is a girls night is a girls night, right?

Even though I have rolled my eyes at my thrifty friends and their bragging Facebook posts more than once, I can’t help but be intrigued when they talk about spending $32 for $250 worth of groceries.

Intrigued . . . and jealous.

So when my friend Sarah invited me to a coupon party and offered to share the tricks of the coupon trade, I decided to go.

The offer of pizza and the thought of leaving my house by myself, on a Friday night of all things, may also have played into my decision-making. I’m just saying.

Because I read blogs, have a cousin who is big into coupons and learned about flyers and price matching from our babysitter, I already knew a lot of what was shared at the party. (Or, as I told Mark when I got home, “I already know everything.” Um . . . really, Mary?)

However, reading a post about using coupons or hearing how much my cousin has slashed her budget is different than hearing, step-by-step, how my friend buys groceries and saves money. I learned a lot of little tips and heard some great real-life examples that gave those things I’d read or heard more depth.

And hanging out with some new girlfriends was a blast! (When I left, they were talking about the possibility of a cooking club. And since my last attempt at that flopped, I can’t wait to hear if these girls are up for it!)

Mark and I are considering some changes in the next few months that will mean a much tighter budget. So even though the thought of clipping so many coupons I need a binder kind of makes my head hurt, I think I might be sliding toward the dark side. The coupon side.

The exciting thing is that I’ve got great women to learn from. My cousin feeds four young kids and a gluten-free husband on one salary. Our babysitter provided meals for her family while her husband was out of full-time work for several months. And the girls from last week? Well, between their binders and their envelopes and their systems and their “I consider this a job,” they mean business!

The internet is full of sites about coupons and saving money, so I’ll keep this brief. Here are the main ways my friend saves money on groceries:

• Coupons from the Sunday newspaper (Red Plum and Smart Source inserts, as well as Procter & Gamble insert)
• Websites such as smartsource.com, redplum.com and coupons.com 
• Blogs, including some of my favorites, Money Saving Mom and Deal Seeking Mom
• Price matching with sales flyers
• Drug store rewards cards
• Stacking coupons (using a manufacturer’s coupon and an in-store coupon)

Some of the things the experienced coupon ladies talked about don’t appeal to me. One mentioned “sneaking by” expired coupons, and I’m not cool with that. Another mentioned buying packages of Depends to get the “bucks” on her rewards card, even though she doesn’t know anyone who actually needs Depends.

But for the most part, spending a couple hours a week clipping, organizing and planning is starting to sound like a good idea.

I know. I never thought I’d be one of them. But I think I’m going to give it a try. Is anyone else thinking about jumping into the coupon game? Maybe we could do it together over the summer, offer each other some encouragement . . . or accountability . . . or a challenge. You know, whatever gets you going.

Who’s in? And who already coupons?

Image by BigBeaks

----------------------------------------

Can't get enough of Giving Up on Perfect? Subscribe here, follow me on Twitter and join my Facebook page.

Hot Fun in the Summertime

Let me tell you something: the guy who wrote this song must not have had the spiritual gift of sweat like I do. Because I’m not sure “hot” and “fun” actually belong in the same sentence, to be honest.

But, summer is coming. And sweat or not, I’m determined to have fun.

[Do not bother to tell me that I glisten, because I do not, in fact, glisten. I sweat. Buckets of it. It’s not dewy. It’s not sexy like Ashley Judd in A Time to Kill. It’s just sweat.]

Last week, I told you my first five goals for the summer. You might think that I’m doing these in chronological order or, perhaps, order of importance.

But you’d be wrong.

They are actually in no order whatsoever. So if you’re thinking there’s some significance hidden in which activities got listed last week and which ones were left for this post, there’s not.

Sorry to burst your bubble.

Anywho, in no particular order (as I may have mentioned), here are last week’s and this week’s summer fun plans.

[Because, really, who has to make “summer fun” a GOAL? Really.]

Iowa State Fair
Outdoor Theatre
Chalk Festival
City Market
Zoo and/or Deanna Rose Farmstead

Date Night in the Power & Light District – In the past few years, Kansas City has renovated our downtown area and created an incredible entertainment district.

And I don’t mean “entertainment district” like the kind you might find in, say, Las Vegas or New Orleans.

Nope, it’s just several blocks of restaurants and bars and theaters and stores. It’s really an amazing transformation, and we haven’t spent nearly enough time exploring and enjoying it. I plan to fix that this summer.

Try out one of the movie theater restaurants – The theater downtown and a theater closer to our house now offer a special, fancy way to watch a movie. You can eat and drink real food while you’re watching. I don’t know. Maybe it’s a weird way to do date night, stuffing your face while staring at a screen. But it’s different and it’s new, and I think we should try it.

Dierks Bentley concert – For the past two years, the Power and Light District has held free concerts throughout the summer. Two years ago, Smitty and I went to see Dierks Bentley, and it was soooo good! Mark wasn’t able to get off work that night, so our goal this year is to plan far enough in advance that he can take the night off and rock out to some free country music.

I’m also hoping to get a better spot this time; last time, Smitty and I were close to the stage – but even closer to a trash can. Eww.

Buy a baby pool – Did you think I’d totally forgotten about Annalyn? Of course not! I’m so excited to buy a baby pool for our backyard, so she can splash away all summer long.

Her first summer, she refused to sit up, so she couldn’t even sit in a couple inches of water by herself. Last summer, she was crawling like crazy but still not walking, so I didn’t let her play with her friends at the babysitter’s house.

This year, though, she’s moving all over the place and I feel perfectly safe plopping her down beside me in the water and starting a water war with big splashes! (I tell her she can only make “little splashes” in the bathtub, because I’m a mean mom who doesn’t like to mop up puddles on the bathroom floor.)

Picnics and BBQs – Last but not least, I’m hoping we can grill out and hang out as often as possible, with friends and family and anyone who will join us.

Who’s in? :)

Those are my big plans for the summer. We also have a few other things on the calendar, including a trip to Kansas for my cousin’s twins’ birthday party, a blogging conference in Colorado, a trip to Des Moines for a baby shower, play dates with our old babysitter and a former co-worker, and swapping work days with my parents’ to get some home improvements done at their house and ours.

Sounds like a full few months, doesn’t it? That’s the way I like it, but maybe now that I’ve made some specific plans for FUN, the season won’t fly by without us even having time to enjoy it!

What kind of plans do you have for this summer?

This post will be linked to OhAmanda’s Top Ten Tuesday next week.

----------------------------------------

Can't get enough of Giving Up on Perfect? Subscribe here, follow me on Twitter and join my Facebook page.

Pure imagination

Have you seen the commercial for AT&T that plays “Pure Imagination” while giant paper and crayon characters play in a city? I love that commercial.

You might think, as much as I love – and watch – TV, that I’d have DVR and skip right over commercials. But here’s what you don’t know: I like watching commercials.

There. I said it. I like commercials.

Blame it on my short career in advertising. Or the “see who can count the most billboards” game my mom made up for my brother and me during trips into the city. But whatever the reason, I’m a fan of advertising.

I even subscribe to a few advertising newsletters and blogs.

It’s not like I think all commercials and ads are good. No, they’re mostly garbage. But every once in a while, I see a great commercial and I can’t help but admire the art of advertising.

[I know. I’m weird.]

I had no idea, until I started doing my research for this post, that the song used in the AT&T commercial is from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Probably I didn’t know because I can’t stand that movie.

I think it’s creepy. And yes, I’m even talking about the original, not the Tim Burton version. (I think it goes without saying that anything involving Tim Burton is likely to be on the creepy scale.)

But, there it is. “Pure Imagination” is featured in Willy Wonka and sung – so beautifully – by Gene Wilder.

And speaking of my research . . . I actually found an article that described the exact reaction I have – pretty much exactly how I was going to describe it – to this commercial. Since telling you now would be plagiarism, I’ll just share with you what the article said (emphasis mine).

That's what the AT&T “Rethink” commercial does for me. I can be doing a million other things, but when Gene Wilder's voice starts singing "Pure Imagination" from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, I stop whatever I'm doing, look at the TV, and become mesmerized by those child-like drawings springing to life in a busy city. That's exactly what AT&T wants me to do, and it's working, so props to them. (TV Squad)

That says it so well. There’s just something so captivating about this tune, those words and the characters. My favorite part is the pause before he sings “imagination” and “explanation.” Here, watch it:



Click here if you can’t see the embedded video.

This post will be linked to Things I Love Thursday at The Diaper Diaries, Friday Favorites at The Other Mama and Show Us Your Life at Kelly's Korner.

Do you like commercials? What do you think is the best commercial on TV right now?

----------------------------------------

Can't get enough of Giving Up on Perfect? Subscribe here, follow me on Twitter and join my Facebook page.

Sweet souvenirs

For the past couple of weeks, I’ve been trying to figure out how to write about my upcoming wedding anniversary. I had a couple good ideas, but every time I sat down to write, I got stuck.

It shouldn’t be hard to think of ways to describe how much I love my husband . . . right? I shouldn’t struggle to write 11 ways our marriage has improved over the past 11 years or a list of the many times I’ve fallen in love with my husband over the years.

But some things are hard to put into words.

So when I read Brad Ruggles’ blog post, What’s In Your Shoebox? I was relieved. Finally, I had the perfect way to commemorate my 11th anniversary. I’d just find 11 keepsakes that symbolize my relationship with Mark.

Easier said than done. Apparently I’m not the Level 1 hoarder (random Bones reference, if you’re wondering) I thought I was.

I rallied, though, and found 11 things (even if they’re not technically “keepsakes”) that, when put together, form a picture of a decade-plus of marriage.

Embroidered Teddy Bear Vest
Don’t tell me you don’t have one of these in the back of your closet, too. What? You don’t? Oh, right. Me either.

I actually keep this in my cedar chest. Not because it’s so cute or might someday be in style. I keep this vest because Mark gave it to me for Christmas just a couple months after we started dating.

It wasn’t cool in 1994, either. His mom picked it out for him. How cute is that?
 

Movie tickets
I can’t even focus on why I kept these tickets. All I can see is how darned cheap movies used to be! Seriously! When was the last time it cost just $3.75 to see a movie?

When we were engaged, I compiled a bunch of photos and ephemera from our dating days. (Yes, I said “ephemera.” Ever since I learned what that word meant, I’ve been dying to use it. Sure, I could have said “souvenirs” or something like that. But where’s the fun in that?)

Anyway, I stuck all that stuff, along with some cheesy quotes and clip art, into a scrapbook. And even though that was more than 11 years ago (and my scrapbooking has, ahem, changed a LOT), I still get the urge to keep my movie stubs after going to a movie with Mark.

Martina McBride CD
I’ve already told you the story about this one. On Valentine’s Day 1998, I was expecting Mark to propose. Instead, he gave me a very disappointing thoughtful gift, this CD.

Engagement ring
I can’t wear my engagement ring right now. Yes, I know I could get it stretched, but I am still (STILL!) holding out hope that I will – someday soon, preferably – lose enough weight to wear my ring.

I miss wearing my pretty little diamond ring, but – for those of you who are worried I’m walking around with a naked ring finger – I do wear a wedding band.

Note
Every once in a while, Mark will write me a nice note, and I’ve kept this one long enough that I’ve moved it from one planner to another, sticking it in a place of honor with a paper clip.

Shot glasses
What started as a way for Mark to be as “cool” as his best friend who collected shot glasses has become a way for us to commemorate our travels as a family.

In other words, aside from a magnet or pencil, a shot glass is the cheapest souvenir you can find in gift shops around the world, so we buy one on every vacation.

It’s silly, but it’s ours. Seeing those little glass cups on top of Mark’s dresser reminds me of the trips we’ve taken together. And reminds me that I really should dust more often.

Crutches
Awwww . . . so sweet, right? Okay, maybe not. But if there’s an item in our house (or in the garage, as the case may be) that illustrates part of our history, it’s a pair of crutches.

Mark’s crutches, just to be clear. That man has been injured more times than I can count! (I’m kidding. There will be a Top Ten Tuesday post about it in my future.)

But seriously, dealing with an accident-prone husband has taught me more patience than I ever thought I had.

Cups
I don’t know exactly why I love plastic cups so much. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that glasses never seem to get clean in my dishwasher. Tacky as it may be, Mark has indulged this quirk for years.

And by “indulged,” I mean he has picked up – and sanitized – plastic cups from ridiculous places, just to fill up my cabinet with cheap, logoed cups.

And I love him for it.

Annalyn’s dress
In the days after Annalyn was born, I spent a lot of time sleeping and recovering. Mark, on the other hand, spent a lot of time bored and frustrated. Bored, because he was used to being on the go constantly – not sitting at his wife’s bedside, holding her hand and speaking softly. And frustrated, because that’s exactly what I wanted him to do.

I barely even tolerated him visiting Annalyn in the NICU. What can I say? I was extremely crazy hormonal.

But one night, after I finally fell asleep (thanks to a dose of Benadryl, my version of anti-anxiety medication), he snuck out for some fresh air. And came back with a gift for our tiny baby girl: the cutest little dress I’d ever seen.

Bible study books
Throughout our marriage, Mark and I have been part of several different small groups. Each one has played a part in our faiths and our relationship, forcing us to grow in ways we never expected when we first decided to start a couples’ Bible study at the BSU.

Scrapbook pages
As I said before, my scrapbooking style has changed quite a bit since the days of our engagement. But I never get tired of documenting our life together – even if it means stepping out from behind the camera and getting in the picture for once.

I know these keepsakes, these things are silly. And oh my goodness, this post could not possibly be any longer. But to me, these 11 items draw a beautiful picture of the man I married 11 years ago: sweet, fun, giving, thoughtful, patient and faithful. And that is one picture I will keep forever.

Happy anniversary, Mark.

What keepsakes tell the story of your relationships?

----------------------------------------

Can't get enough of Giving Up on Perfect? Subscribe here, follow me on Twitter and join my Facebook page.

Thrive Africa: Top 10 and a Giveaway

Today I want to tell you about my friend, Alece.

(And in case you’re like me and are saying “Alice” in your head, let me set you straight. Her name is pronounced like “Elise.” Just so you know. The things you can learn in a video post, am I right?)

For a long time, I didn’t know much about what Alece does. I read her blog and comments on other people’s blogs. Sometimes we commented on each other’s blogs, but for a while, that was all. I eventually figured out that she’s a missionary in Africa, but honestly, I didn’t look much deeper.

Then I started reading more about her ministry and became true bloggy friends with her and even got to meet her. And now?

I’m 100 percent, completely and totally in love and on board with Alece and what she does.

{Not that I didn’t love her before. But to know someone and her heart for ministry? It’s a whole different level of friendship and respect and all that good stuff.}

See, around the same time I was sloooowly getting to know Alece and what she does, God was sloooowly breaking my heart for missions.

I’ve told you before about how I never really cared about missions. I’ve admitted that I had no desire to do anything other than give my missionary friends a pat on the back and thank God for not calling me to live in the desert or the jungle or the hood.

Alece didn’t have quite the same experience. I love how she describes it on her blog:

Africa steals the hearts of anyone who comes here. I know. It happened to me.

I got the missions bug in me when I went on my first mission trip at 14. At 16, I was ruined forever by a two-month trip to Southern Africa. I went home with more than a tan and some wooden carvings. I knew I’d spend my life on this continent, with these beautiful people.

I moved to South Africa when I was 19. I didn’t know much, beyond the fact that God called me here. I’ve learned a lot over the past decade+ of living in Africa, but in many ways I still don’t know much. And I’m okay with that. I’ll be a student of Africa forever.

After moving to South Africa in 1998, Alece founded Thrive Africa, a ministry that disciples believers, equips leaders and strengthens the Church in South Africa. Everything they do is focused on guiding people into a growing relationship with God and training them to be competent, upright leaders.

Like so many companies and organizations, Thrive Africa is having some hard times financially. In another incredible leap of faith, they set a God-sized goal to raise $80,000 by June 1.

Which is right around the corner. As in . . . next week!

So today I’m asking you to consider joining Thrive Africa in 10 Buck Tuesday. Just $10 can provide . . .

• Year-round vegetable gardens for three families
• Weekly transport for a coach to teach hundreds of students
• Paper for printing discipleship materials
• A day’s wages for three national employees
• 5 AIDS prevention workbooks, teaching students God’s ways

To give you a larger glimpse into the work Thrive Africa is doing, here are the Top 10 reasons why we should support them. Keep reading . . . there’s a giveaway at the end!

The Top 10 Reasons to Support Thrive Africa

1. Our Leadership Summit program is breaking barriers of communication and providing vital knowledge to turn the tide of the AIDS pandemic in southern Africa. 93% of our partnering pastors report that sexual activity among their youth is a significant problem – and they’re asking us to help. 50% of our surveyed students still need to know essential truths about HIV/AIDS.
2. Boitsebelo School reported zero teen pregnancies this year, due to the impact of Leadership Summit. Their headmaster, Mr. Lebone said this: “Much has been done in terms of equipping students with tools and knowledge to make wise decisions. Example, during the past years we had several learners who got pregnant, but we don’t have even one learner who is pregnant this year.”
3. One Hand-in-Hand conference equips 100 church leaders. We’re aiming to change what’s been said about the African church – that it’s a mile wide and only an inch deep.
4. LaunchPad students come to our discipleship classes during their free time because they are hungry to know about God. Your $10 helps us get to our six classes each week. Our160 LaunchPad students are developing connections with Christ, building relationships with our staff team, learning to make prayer a lifestyle and experiencing what it means to never be alone.
5. Nearly 400 students participate in our quarterly IMPACT conferences, where they are equipped and advanced as leaders. Eighteen schools in QwaQwa (South Africa) participate in our conferences, and hundreds of schools are still waiting for the opportunity.
6. We equip and mentor 23 coaches who impart hope and knowledge to approximately 4,000 students every two weeks.
7. The Department of Education has granted Thrive Africa unlimited access to the schools in our entire district (over 300). Our limitation is the funds to pay for additional coaches and curriculum. Just $10 pays a days’ wages for two coaches or for five curriculum books.
8. Thrive is investing in 52 national staff members and combating the 88% unemployment rate. Your gift of just $10 covers a day’s wages for two South African staff.
9. Your investment in Thrive is guaranteed to multiply. As we invest in pastors and other church leaders, they become equipped to invest in others and bring lasting change to this nation.
10. For less than the cost of a date night or coffee with a friend or a new CD, you can equip a nation for tomorrow and make an eternal impact on our world. Our investment in South Africa is exponential because we extend our reach of God-centered change by raising up indigenous leaders who will model the same. We believe in teaching men to fish rather than solely giving them a fish for today.

These reasons were taken from the Thrive Africa blog.

Now for the giveaway! Do you like coffee? Do you care about Africa? Well, howsabout we put those things together and give you a lovely red Thrive Africa mug and a bag of Thrive Africa blend coffee?!

{The certified fair trade and organic coffee comes from Africa in the Sidamo region of Ethiopia. It’s coffee from Africa for Africa!}

To enter the giveaway, do one of the following and leave a comment telling me about it. For additional entries, do more than one of the following and leave a {separate} comment for each one.

• LIKE: Thrive Africa on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/thriveafrica)
• FOLLOW: Thrive Africa on Twitter (@impactSA)
• TWEET: $10 goes farther than you think. Join in the fight against AIDS in africa. http://10bucktuesday.com/ #10BuckTues
• DONATE: http://10bucktuesday.com/

Random.org will choose a winner after midnight on Thursday, and I’ll announce the winner on Friday.

This post will be linked to Top Ten Tuesday at OhAmanda.

----------------------------------------

Can't get enough of Giving Up on Perfect? Subscribe here, follow me on Twitter and join my Facebook page.

The Problem with Romance Novels

I’m not sure what the book was doing in the elementary school library in the first place. With a main character who was 13 years old, it seems more appropriate for the middle school.

At least, it does now.

When I was in second or third grade and allowed to check out books from the fourth grade shelves because of my advanced reading skills, a book called “I Was a 98-Pound Duckling” seemed completely appropriate to me.

My mom did not agree.

The book’s description – according to openlibrary.org, not my memory – explains why: A 13-year-old who suffers from several "beauty problems" improves her self-image after a brief summer romance.

Not exactly the best choice for an 8-year-old.

Little did my mom know that was not the last time I would read an age-inappropriate book. From hiding Harlequin novels in my desk throughout middle school to discovering Danielle Steele at my first job (at a library – are you surprised?) in high school, I was hooked on romance and I indulged early and often.

Since I’ve mentioned more than once my love of chick flicks, a.k.a. romantic comedies, you have probably assumed that this romance addiction didn’t end with adolescence.

If so, you would be right.

Even throughout the early – and, okay, not so early – years of my marriage, I often lost myself in a paperback book that I’d be embarrassed to be seen reading.

You wouldn’t believe how excited I was when our library started allowing patrons to check out their own books with the automatic scanner. Now I could read all the trashy romances I wanted – and nobody would know!

I read all sorts of romance novels. Sure, I read the trashy ones, the ones I lay face down on my coffee table. But I also read tons of Christian romances (anyone else remember the Palisades Pure Romance books?).

Smutty or wholesome – it didn’t matter. Whether the main characters parted with a chaste kiss on the front porch or tumbled straight into bed, the premise of each book was the same.

The love – the romance – shared by the main characters of each story was breathtaking. The kind that sweeps you off your feet. That happens at first sight. That conquers all and lasts forever and solves mysteries and makes babies and cures cancer and wins wars.

And it happened to characters that, no matter if they were cowboys or prostitutes or knights or duchesses or veterinarians or florists or lawyers, the reader can easily identify with.

Unfortunately, I consumed those books, that premise, those characters the same way I consume Doritos or Oreos: in mass quantity without thinking.

The whole time I was gulping down those books, I was building – and reinforcing – a belief system. I was learning about love, about men and women, about relationships. And I was creating a whole lot of expectations.

Am I stupid? Or gullible? No. I knew, full and well, that those books were works of fiction. I knew that they were no more real than the Disney movies I watched with my little brother.

But even though I knew those stories weren’t real, after a while, I started believing them anyway. After you’ve read dozens, possibly hundreds, of books about strong, brave, sensitive and romantic men, you start to think that maybe that’s the norm. After you’ve read so many stories about love that can move mountains and turn back time and inspire poetry, you start to think that maybe that’s the way love is supposed to be.

Maybe those men do exist. Maybe that kind of love is possible. Maybe that’s what I deserve.

And that is where the trouble starts.

Stay tuned until next week for more on The Problem with Romance Novels.

Do you read romance novels?

----------------------------------------

Can't get enough of Giving Up on Perfect? Subscribe here, follow me on Twitter and join my Facebook page.

Weekend Links: 5.22.10

I’ve really got everything here. I’m talking parenting, faith, marriage, humor, conviction – it’s all here.

Well, not all. I mean, you don’t really want me to dump my whole Google Reader on you . . . do you?

[No. You do not. And how do I know this? Because I know you don’t want to read the blogs I subscribe to for work. Not that real estate and finance aren’t fascinating. But, um, they’re not.]

So, what are we left with? Just a handful of my favorite posts (and two videos) from the past few weeks. Enjoy – and share a link or two to your favorite posts in the comments! (And if your favorite post happens to be your own, link it up anyway!)

• How perfectionism kills community by Rachel Held Evans
• What It Is, Part Two by Heart & Home (“It” being her husband’s deployment.)
• Frugal Birthday Ideas by Amy at The Finer Things
• Trying to explain to men why you love Beth Moore so much by Jenny Acuff at Stuff Christians Like
• Leading authors of our generation by Brad Lomenick
• Dinner at Café Flop by Missy at It’s Almost Naptime!
• Mommy’s Piggy Tales by Janna at Adventures of Motherhood

Television is a drug. (video)




Swagger Wagon (video)



These Delicious tags on a Sunday will be linked to Saturday Stumbles at It's Come 2 This. I know. I don't make any sense.

----------------------------------------

Can't get enough of Giving Up on Perfect? Subscribe here, follow me on Twitter and join my Facebook page.

Giveaway winner: The Pioneer Woman Cooks

WOW. I can't believe how many people entered my giveaway for The Pioneer Woman's cookbook. I wish I could give one to EACH of you!

Unfortunately, I can't. So Random.org got the unenviable job of choosing just one. And he picked . . . drum roll, please . . . Commenter #89, KirstinMarie!

Kirstin, please e-mail me your address, so I can send you the book!

Thank you to everyone who made me hungry ALL week with your favorite comfort foods! I hope you get to indulge in your favorites soon. (And who would have guessed mashed potatoes would be at the top of the list? Okay...I would have guessed that. How about you?)

----------------------------------------

Can't get enough of Giving Up on Perfect? Subscribe here, follow me on Twitter and join my Facebook page.

Saturday Review: Make sure you do the dollar rental.

We’re going to see a movie tonight. It’s a date night. And we’re going to see Date Night.

Iron Man 2 looks more exciting, but it doesn’t have the same sort of ring that “date night to Date Night” does.

I’ve read some reviews of Date Night, and they’re not all great. Some were pretty good, though. And more importantly, my friends on Facebook (and friends of friends who commented after me) have loved it. So, Date Night squared it is.

All this movie thought reminded me that I haven’t reviewed any movies for quite a while. Unfortunately for us both, I remembered why when I looked at my list of recently watched movies.

Mainly – I haven’t seen any great movies lately. But, I do make it a goal (why, I don’t know, so don’t even ask me) to tell you my take on just about every movie I watch. So, here goes:

Post Grad: I loved Gilmore Girls, and this movie stars Alexis Bledel. On top of that, the preview made the movie look like it was about a girl trying to figure out her career path. And you know that’s something I’ve struggled with. The difference? I’ve been struggling for a decade and still don’t have an answer. The character in this movie struggles for a summer and – don’t worry, I’m not really spoiling anything here – finds an answer. So, instead of being helpful or inspiring, this one ended up being a little depressing for me. Almost as discouraging as reading another story about another “not yet 30” person finding wild success.

On a positive note, Rory is still as cute as ever. And her family was a larger focus of the movie than I expected, which I really liked. In fact, I think the family situations and relationships were my favorite part.

Did You Hear About the Morgans? I knew it. I knew this would be stupid. But I just can’t resist a romantic comedy. I should have, though. I don’t like Sarah Jessica Parker. I just don’t. I don’t think I ever need to see her in another film again. And Hugh Grant? Well, I like him and all. But really – and I know this is terrible, and I’m no spring chicken myself – I think he’s a little bit old to be playing the same old romantic lead character he has for years. YEARS.

Leap Year: Speaking of year . . . Do you see how that happened? I didn’t even plan it. It just . . . happened.

Anyway, this was cute. Silly, yes. Predictable, of course. But hello! It has Irish accents and Irish landscapes and even an Irish castle. You pretty much can’t go wrong with that. I do wish I’d watched it with the subtitles on, because the accents are pretty thick and I was pretty tired. But even though the whole thing was clichéd and silly, I liked it well enough.

(Ugh! Don’t be put off by my faint praise! If you like chick flicks, it really is fine. And, really, for a dollar?)

The Informant! I saved the best for last, but WOW, this was not what I expected.

I expected laugh-out-loud funny. I expected exciting caper. I expected to enjoy it much more than Mark and Smitty, who both had the nerve to (separately) watch the movie without me and then went on to say things like, “It wasn’t what I expected.”

But when Mark was sweet enough to secretly rent this for me after my second weekend of verge-of-death (also known as “sinus infection,” but really, that does not sound serious enough to describe my illness), I found myself saying the same thing: “It sure wasn’t what I expected.”

Was it funny? Yes, really funny. But in a smart, make-you-think sort of way. And definitely not in a laugh-out-loud sort of way.

It’s long, it’s interesting and it has more surprises than I can even tell you here. So, all in all, I’d highly recommend renting this one. Just don’t be expecting . . . well, anything.

Have you rented any good – or not good, if it so happens – movies lately?

----------------------------------------

Can't get enough of Giving Up on Perfect? Subscribe here, follow me on Twitter and join my Facebook page.

Summer in the City

Yesterday I met with my manager, and we talked about goals for the rest of the month. About one particular project, she said, “I’d like to finish that up by summer.”

Then we paused. And realized that summer is almost here. I suggested we go strictly by the calendar start, which is still a month away.

You might have guessed that I’m not fond of said project. And I’m not. But more importantly – where has the time gone?

Seriously! I know it’s cliché to moan and groan about time flying, blah, blah, blah. But come on, time! Slow the heck down!!

Okay. I gather, from my elders and, you know, clichéd blog posts, that time will not be slowing down anytime soon. So instead of letting another season fly by, I’m taking a note from the I Heart Blog and setting some goals for enjoying my summer.

Yes, you got that right. I’m making plans to have fun.

Iowa State Fair – My brother, sister-in-law and two good friends from college live in Des Moines. In addition, my brother once starred in a production of State Fair. (Is that true, James? It feels true, but who knows...) So I know well that the Iowa State Fair is the best state fair in the state.

And yet, we’ve never been. I plan to remedy that this summer. As a matter of fact, it’s already on the calendar. We’re going to a Keith Urban and Kris Allen (yee-haw!) concert with my brother and sister-in-law, then we’re going to see the animals and exhibits and butter cow with my friends.

I can’t wait. I might feel differently when it’s a million degrees and we’re sniffing barnyard animal fumes. But for now, I’m excited.

Outdoor Theatre – I’ve got two choices: free community theater a few blocks from my house or moderately expensive professional productions a short drive south. I know it seems obvious, but while I really like South Pacific (who doesn’t sing “I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outta My Hair” in the shower?), the pro theater is putting on Beauty and the Beast. And The Producers, but Beauty and the Beast! My favorite!

Side note: I cannot wait until Annalyn moves on from Cinderella to a real princess. And by “real princess” – because yes, I rank them – I mean Belle. My favorite, if I haven’t mentioned it.

Oh, one more thing. Both theater options? In August. The hot month.

Chalk Festival – Back in the day when our time was our own, Mark and I made an effort to enjoy all the fun our city has to offer. Well, one year we did. But that year was a lot of fun. And it introduced us to the city’s Chalk Festival.

I don’t remember how we stumbled on it, but I’m so glad we did. The creations those artists make – with chalk – on the sidewalk – are incredible. And I’m determined to go again this year.

City Market – Okay, if you must know, my whole plan includes not just visiting the farmer’s market downtown, but buying fresh vegetables to make my own salsa. Yep, salsa again.

And I might pick up some flowers, too. Just because.

The Zoo and/or Deanna Rose Farmstead – Big animals or small ones? Maybe both. It will depend on how the summer shapes up, but we’re definitely doing at least one.

The zoo pros are big, exotic animals, as well as an invitation from my new blog friend, Janna.

The farmstead pros are animals you can pet and feed, as well as rave reviews from all of my mom friends. Not my mom’s friends. Although, I don’t know, they might love it, too.

Okay, you’re right. I can’t choose. I’ll do both.

These five activities make up half of my summer list. I’ll share the other five next week. Until then . . . What are your plans for the summer?

This post will be posted to Show Us Your Life at Kelly’s Korner.

Images from Maureen Lunn, veritasnoctis, kansas_city_royalty and kcchalkandwalk.org.

----------------------------------------

Can't get enough of Giving Up on Perfect? Subscribe here, follow me on Twitter and join my Facebook page.

When blog friends become real friends

Last February, I almost got to meet one of my very first bloggy friends. We were both scheduled to be in Nashville – for two different conferences – the same weekend in February.

It didn’t work out.

Then, this February, the same thing happened. We were both in town (neither one of us lives in Nashville, by the way), but again, we weren’t able to connect.

And just last month, I visited Nashville with my parents. I e-mailed another blog friend who lives there as soon as I found out about the trip and asked if we could hang out while I was there. She said, “Sure!”

Can you guess what happened?

Or, more accurately, what didn’t happen?

[Seriously, what is up with Nashville and me?]

I was so disappointed each time I was unable to see my friends. That’s the thing about becoming friends with people you meet online: they probably don’t live in your town.

And while online friendships can be meaningful and genuine, there’s just something special about seeing someone in person and hugging her neck.

So last week, when I heard that my friend Alece – who normally lives in Africa – would be visiting my friend Sara – who can’t leave her house for health reasons – just five hours from my house, I didn’t hesitate.

I e-mailed them and invited myself up!

Read the rest of my post at (in)courage.

------------------------------------------

Can't get enough of Giving Up on Perfect? Subscribe here, follow me on Twitter and join my Facebook page.

Protesting the Moonlighting effect

It’s that bittersweet time of year again. No, not graduation time.

Season finale time.

And as I think about some of my favorite shows that are coming to an end – at least for the summer – I can’t help but think about David and Maddie.

You know, from Moonlighting?

Yep. The ones who ruined it for all of us.

Surely you’ve heard of the Moonlighting effect, right? The so-called rule that says if you allow romantic tension between the male and female lead characters to actually develop into a relationship, then it’s all over.

Never mind that according to most reports, Bruce Willis and Cybil Sheperd hated each other by the end of the show.

But regardless of the reason, most TV shows avoid the situation at all costs. And if you want to know just how extreme “all costs” can be, think back to the last couple of seasons of Gilmore Girls.

My very favorite show, Chuck, has bucked the trend and finally (finally!) put Chuck and Sarah together. But most of my other favorites? Still toeing the David and Maddie line.

Exhibit A: Bones
Exhibit B: Castle
Exhibit C: NCIS

One surprising coupling (is that weird? Maybe I should find another way to say it...) is Betty and Daniel in the series finale of Ugly Betty. Then again, not so surprising, since they waited until the very, VERY end to give us even a sliver of hope that it might possibly happen after the screen went dark.

Who are your favorite couples – or non-couples – on TV? Either now or in the past. (Feel free to go retro with a Sam and Diane or Tony and Angela.)

----------------------------------------

Can't get enough of Giving Up on Perfect? Subscribe here, follow me on Twitter and join my Facebook page.

Pink toes

Pay no attention to the Skittles on my mouth!

As I buckled her into her car seat, she said, “I have white toes.”

Okaaaaay.

Then, “Elise has pink toes. I have white toes.”

Oh! I get it now. Her friend Elise has painted toenails.

“Would you like me to paint your toenails pink?” I asked.

“Yeah!”

And just like that, I made her day. Actually, based on the way she showed off her pink toes and “stingers” [fingers] over the next several days, I made her week.

I couldn’t help but think just how easy it is to make her happy now. Two year olds throw fits over the most ridiculous things, but they also delight in the simplest pleasures.

Like pink toes.
Or princess band-aids.
Or a new bouncy ball from the store.
Or blowing bubbles on the front porch.
Or rediscovering a bucket of stuffed animals that have been neglected for six months.

It’s so easy now. But it won’t always be that way.

I think of the times my parents just couldn’t – or wouldn’t – do what I wanted to make me happy. I think of dance lessons we couldn’t afford and extracurricular activities they didn’t approve. I think of church camp and parties missed and rules and budgets enforced.

But then I remember hugs and lessons and support and love. And I know that they gave me everything I ever needed – and so much more. Like piano lessons and Camp Fire uniforms. Like a second pair of basketball shoes, after my first pair got stolen. Like a dress for a dance that I never got asked to.

And I know that my little girl will be just fine, even if she doesn’t get everything she wants.

Still, I’m glad I can give her pink toes.

This post will be linked to What I Learned This Week at Inmates to Playdates and Tuesdays Unwrapped at Chatting at the Sky.

-----------------------------------------

Can't get enough of Giving Up on Perfect? Subscribe here, follow me on Twitter and join my Facebook page.

Giveaway: The Pioneer Woman Cookbook

I had grand plans to make something from the Pioneer Woman’s cookbook this weekend, take beautiful photos in the natural light and then write all about it in today’s post.

As you might have guessed from the way I said, “I had grand plans,” something went awry. Mainly the daycare germs striking again, although the rain and the clouds and the no natural light didn’t help.

I won’t whine for long (Although I could. And I want to. Believe me, I want to.), but this was the third weekend out of three that someone has been sick at our house. And it was the second weekend out of three that someone has, in fact, been ME.

Last time, my co-workers and I just suffered through my 10-day-long cough. But since this bug – whatever it is – has returned as quickly as So You Think You Can Dance after a fall season, I went to the doctor yesterday.

Well, I went to the CVS clinic. And saw the “doctor,” who gave me the weakest antibiotic on earth (Yes, amoxycilin, I’m talking to you.) and told me I should feel better in three to four days.

THREE to FOUR DAYS.

Needless to say (is it? Because I seem to be saying a lot here.), I didn’t do any much cooking this weekend.

I did, however, make it to the store to buy groceries, so I now at least have the ingredients for the PW recipe I picked out. Because, no, I don’t normally have Crisco on hand.

So, I’m sure you’re wondering – especially if you came over here from a cooking carnival – what do I have for you, anyway? Is there a giveaway or what?

Yes. Yes, my friend, there is a giveaway. But first, I thought I’d tell you – because I’m feeling really inferior when it comes to my cooking skills, now that I admitted I don’t keep shortening on hand and all – that I have tried a few of PW’s recipes.

Here are the few I’ve tried (I tweaked each one of them, but LOVED them all):

• World’s best lasagna
• Chicken spaghetti
• Cheesy garlic bread
• Southwest corn dip

Now, on to the good stuff. I’m giving away my last copy of The Pioneer Woman Cooks. So if you like good food (and, really, who doesn’t?), I suggest you enter this one.

To enter, leave a comment telling me your favorite comfort food.

[I’ll go first with an embarrassing example. In college, my favorite once-a-month, if you know what I mean, comfort food was macaroni and cheese. Made from a box. With water and not milk. In the microwave. See? Even if I make my meatloaf in the microwave now, my tastes have clearly improved. Somewhat.]

For additional entries, subscribe to Giving Up on Perfect, follow me on Twitter or join my Facebook page – and then tell me in a separate comment. (That’s a separate comment for each one, if you’d like. And if you already do these things, just say so in that separate comment.)

I'll use Random.org to draw a winner after midnight on Friday. Good luck, and happy Monday!

This post will be linked to Mouthwatering Monday, Tasty Tuesday, Tuesdays at the Table, Tempt My Tummy Tuesday, What's Cooking Wednesday, Friday Food, Foodie Friday and Food on Fridays.

----------------------------------------

Can't get enough of Giving Up on Perfect? Subscribe here, follow me on Twitter and join my Facebook page.

Saturday Review: The Hole in Our Gospel

The first time I heard about The Hole in Our Gospel was in a blog post by Pete Wilson when he went to India with Compassion. He said it rocked his world.

That scared me. And intrigued me.

So when the book became available for review, I jumped on it. And then put it off. For almost a year.

I’m not exaggerating this time. I took the book with me on vacation. Last June.

See, Pete wasn’t the only person I’d heard talk about this book. Written by Richard Stearns, the CEO of World Vision, the book’s subtitle is “What Does God Expect of Us? The Answer That Changed My Life and Might Just Change the World.”

Yikes. Does that not intimidate you??

Eleven months later, I’ve finally finished The Hole in Our Gospel. Actually, I finished it a while ago, but I’ve been letting it settle in my soul.

I’m still pretty unsettled, if you want to know the truth, but it’s time to review the book.

Richard Stearns begins The Hole in Our Gospel with his personal story. It’s an incredible one, and it blew me away. He was a very wealthy, very successful CEO of a corporation when God CALLED him to World Vision.

I don’t want to ruin the story by telling you the details. You really need to read it yourself! I’ll just tell you this: God is amazing, and Stearns’ story is an amazing testimony to that fact.

The middle part of the book contains fact after statistic after story, illustrating exactly how bad the poverty in our world is. One thing Stearns pointed out that I hadn’t realized (okay, he pointed out TONS of things I hadn’t realized, but this one struck me in particular): the deficit between the richest and the poorest people is HUGE. Ridiculously huge.

In the last part of the book, Stearns offers suggestions for addressing this problem, and what has stuck with me most was his encouragement to not get overwhelmed and apathetic.

Even though he spent many pages breaking the heart of his reader, he doesn’t want to stop there. He wants us to act. To actually – don’t be shocked – live like Jesus.

This book was challenging. It was eye-opening. It was HARD to read.

And I’m so glad I did.

I highly recommend reading The Hole in Our Gospel by Richard Stearns. But don’t be surprised if it changes your heart, too!

-----------------------------------------

Can't get enough of Giving Up on Perfect? Subscribe here, follow me on Twitter and join my Facebook page.

I've lost that loving feeling.

No, not that loving feeling.

I mean my love of reading. And I wouldn’t say I’ve necessarily lost it yet. But it’s definitely not as fun as it used to be. Unfortunately, I know why.

The culprit? Too many book reviews. Too many books on my must-read list that are also on my must-review list. Too many books stacked next to my bed that don’t look quite as fun or interesting or moving now that they arrived in my mailbox. Too many books that do look fun or interesting or moving, but because they’re a “to-do” instead of a “wanna,” I just don’t feel like reading them.

Book reviews are sapping the enjoyment straight out of my reading these days.

It’s not that I don’t like the books I’ve read and reviewed. Once I've managed to start them, I've loved almost every one. I wouldn’t suggest them to you if I didn’t like them.

But they aren’t necessarily the books I would pick out for myself. And, as Chelley has heard me say more than she likes, I’ve got a towering stack of books that I have picked out for myself already waiting for me.

And because I’ve committed to review them, they come with a price. Sure, the books are free. Unless you count the expectation that I will, you know, read them, take notes and then post an honest, well-written review.

That’s a lot of pressure, you all.

I know that sounds crazy. But the way I normally read – super fast, sometimes [don’t judge me] even skipping the boring parts and for pure escapist pleasure – is not conducive to deep thoughts or insights.

Much as I enjoy free books – especially books that I wouldn’t necessarily have picked up myself or would have waited years to borrow from the library – I don’t think the “free” part of this deal is working out for me.

And that is why I’m going to stop doing book reviews.

[Insert dramatic music here, if you like that sort of thing.]

Okay, okay. I realize it’s not really an earth-shattering announcement. Unless you’re my mailman, and then you might be glad for fewer boxes to deliver.

I’m not saying I will never review another book. [Let's be honest: sharing my opinions is kind of what I do.] I’m just saying I’m not going to do any right now.

[Unless you count the book I’m reviewing tomorrow. But that’s the last one. For realz.]

So, what do you think?

----------------------------------------

Can't get enough of Giving Up on Perfect? Subscribe here, follow me on Twitter and join my Facebook page.