Hit and a Miss

I was determined to get an Easter dress this year. I buy them every year for my girls, so why not one for me?

I ordered this from DownEast Basics:

It wasn't good. The color was called "Pink Lady" - I would describe it more as "Peach Grandma." It was all too similar to the bridesmaid dress I wore at my sister's wedding in the early 90's. In retrospect, I can see this was a poor decision from the beginning. I can't really blame the dress. Just looking at the picture, I really should have known: it's not the one for me. It's already been sent back.

This tee for my youngest was very very cute. In fact, she wore it to school today.

Return to Me

We went to Blockbuster the other day. We left with nothing and wasted a good fifteen minutes of the day. Hundreds of movies and nothing worth seeing. My youngest daughter found a Care Bear movie but I just couldn't justify standing in line and paying $5 to rent a cartoon about bears that talk. (By the way Blockbuster, did you know you can Redbox a movie for a dollar? Pardon the word redbox as a verb.)

My oldest likes to browse through the "old movies" (you know, from the 1990's). She was trying to talk me into renting Miss Congeniality 2. I was sure we could do better than that. I remembered a delightful movie I'd hadn't see in years.

Of course, it was not in the store. Not checked out mind you, they don't even carry it in the store.
So, I borrowed a friend's copy and we watched it that night. Adorable. Delightful. Hilarious.

What happened to romantic comedies? Why don't they make them any more? Can't Hollywood make light-hearted, enjoyable movies with characters I would actually want to be friends with?

I don't need an Oscar winner. I just want a cute story about love. Is that so wrong?

I just might be forced to start seriously working on my screenplay.

4 Reasons Why I am Watching American Idol

I have been really disappointed with Idol this season. No, that overstates things. That implies that I had high hopes for Idol and I really didn't. Personally, I am quite certain that the David Cook/Archuleta season will never be beat. Hands down best season. Great talent. Great performances. Super fun to watch. Plus George Michael was on the finale, need I say more?

If it was up to me, I would drop the show from my dvr faster than you know, something super sonic fast. As it stands I only watch the show (with a heavy finger on the fast forward button mind you) for 4 reasons:

1. This adorable girl watches the show. I love her, she loves the show. I like to spend time with her, she likes to spend time watching the show.

2. Lee. He's pretty good.

3. Crystal. She's really good.

4. All the Glee commercials. (Sometimes I fast forward the show just to see these commercials.)

First Day of Spring

We had a freakish snow storm on Saturday (first day of Spring.) Somewhere around 7 inches. It was supposed to be first soccer games of the season.


It's pretty much all melted already. Weird.

Grumble, Grumble

It's fundraising week. Now what am I supposed to listen to?

Books

I am tired mediocre books. I am tired of getting 50 pages in and thinking "eh" (with a shoulder shrug) and moving on. I am tired of lame plot lines, unrealistic characters, and formulas.

I want to be wowed. I want to be entertained. I want to be captivated. I want to be caught up, taken in and charmed. I want to ignore the laundry and dishes and stay up until 2am because I just can't not know what is going to happen. I am ready to have my socks knocked off.

You know what I am talking about, right?






I want an interesting, well written story that makes me think about the characters and plot for days. It could be children's literature or young adult, or classic. I am not picky. I just want it to be good.

I am on hold for this at the library (26 and counting.) Someone said it was good.



I'll let you know.

Any suggestions?

Default Setting

A few months ago, I read "The Middle Place" by Kelly Corrigan.

I think about the following quote all the time. The author speaking of her father:

"I think people like him because his default setting is open delight. He’s prepared to be wowed—by your humor, your smarts, your white smile, even your handshake—guaranteed, something you do is going to thrill him. Something is going to make him shake his head afterward, in disbelief, and say to me, “Lovey, what a guy!” or “Lovey, isn’t she terrific?” People walk away from him feeling like they’re on their game, even if they suspect that he put them there."

I want my default setting to be open delight.

Navy

I am in love with navy today. Well, every day actually.


Payless, Jcrew

Anthropologie, Anthropologie.

Popularity Contest

Did you know my alma mater was named most popular university by US New and World Report? Yeah, we beat out Havard for number one. It's true. Read about it here. Go Cougars!

Family

Just in case you weren't able to make it to the middle school concert:

www.carie-list.blogspot.com

I Wanna Be Kate!

I really enjoyed reading this article in the New York Times about Kate and Andy Spade. (Found it via Oh Happy Day.) Plus, great pictures of their apartment.

It made me love Kate Spade - the person- even more, if that is possible. I especially love reading about how she chooses to be a mother.

But it also made me sad in a way to know that Kate Spade -the person- is not designing for Kate Spade - the company. Still love her stuff though (even if it is not her.)

One Bow Tie Please

On Saturday, my son was baptized. (In our church, we are baptized at the age of 8.)


I asked him if he wanted to get a new suit in honor of this special day. He said, "No, I don't need a new suit, but I would really like one of those bow ties." He has always walked to his own beat and that is why we love him. I think he rocked the bow tie, do you agree?


He shared the day with his buddy. They were born a couple of weeks apart. I can't believe they are old enough to be baptized!

It was such a wonderful day. We were surrounded by our amazing friends and family - Mark's parents came out from California. I will write more about it on my private blog but can't resist an opportunity to testify: Baptism is a saving ordinance. The Spirit is a gift from God.

Posters

Here is another way to have meaningful (and religious) art in your home. I saw this boy's room posted in Elle Decor via Style Files. It was designed by everyone's favorite, Nate Berkus.


What I love? Look at the art to the left of the bed. These are fabulous quotes from Rosa Parks.

I love, love, love this idea.

Here are some of the printed quotes I've found so far:

From type type type:

From Persimmon and Pink :



Some of the phrases I would like on posters:

• Do Unto Others
• If There Is Anything Virtous, Lovely, or Of Good Report, We Seek After These Things
• They were exceedingly valiant for courage, they were men who were true at all times in whatsoever thing they were entrusted. (for my boys room.)
  

Finding the Right One

I am a religious person. I'm a believer.

But I don't have a whole lot of religious art in my home. I would like to, I just have a hard time finding something that - it sounds so cliche but I am going to say it anyway - speaks to me. It is difficult to take something so personal and sacred and put it up on a wall. Either it is cheesy (oh, I said it) or everyone else has it or it just looks out of place in my home.

I would really like to find some lovely religious pictures.

Most of my favorites are by an artist named Minerva Teichert.

Christ with Mary and Martha
Rescue of the Lost Lamb

Christ in a Red Robe.

I think this one is beautiful. I haven't seen it before and that is why I love it. It is called "Jesus and the Children" - which also happens to be one of my favorite stories from the scriptures.

I have also seen some sketches of temples but I can't seem to find any I like online.

Do you have any ideas?

My Celebrity Look-alikes

I saw this on a blog and couldn't resist giving it a go. Download a picture and they use face recognition to match you with celebrities. I thought it was a bunch on bunk until I saw that they matched me with Patricia Highsmith. I think you will agree, the resemblance is uncanny.

Guess.

Guess where these are from?



Charlotte Russe. Total price for all 5? $92

This cardigan is from J.Crew. Very similar to one above, yes?



It costs $88*. (for one.)

*In J.Crew's defense, you really can't beat the quality of their material.