Friday Fashion: Color Trend Alert!

As I plunk away at my Mac keys my town is under a winter storm watch.  Brrrr.  As such, I've decided to do something entirely optimistic on my part ...  Think about Spring.

Spring (n.)--God's way of reminding us He makes all things new.  

Honestly, I prefer Fall and Winter {gasp} but Spring is just so positively ... springy.  One can't help but look forward to new shoots of green grass reaching upwards to the sun and robins announcing sunrise from the tree branches.  New beginnings--it's like a breath of fresh air after leaving a smoke shop.

Enough of the poetics (I know I had you at "smoke shop").

All this "it's almost spring" thinking inspired me to share this spring's color trend alert.  Are you ready for this?

It's sea foam green and coral!  (does this remind anyone else of 1990?  Oh good.)

Coral is bold without being garish.  Sea foam is pretty and pastel without being preschool.  Worn separately with neutrals, this is a surprise splash of color.  Worn together, it's a little bit of heaven.

Source: polyvore.com via Reagan on Pinterest

Source: Uploaded by user via Blakely on Pinterest

Source: polyvore.com via Reagan on Pinterest

Source: polyvore.com via Reagan on Pinterest

Source: Uploaded by user via Melissa on Pinterest

Source: ashley-ringmybell.blogspot.com via Blakely on Pinterest

Things I Love: A Long, Hot Shower

I am not one of those gals who showers first thing in the morning.

I save my shower for the end of the day.

I practically scald my body with water as hot as I can stand.

And I stand there.  Sometimes for five minutes; sometimes for thirty.

I let the water finger through my hair and un-knot my back.  I let my mind wander--in prayer--in praise--in imaginative talk and dreaming.

This is my me time.

This is where I do my best thinking.

When the steam fills up the bathroom and the scent of milk and almond body scrub permeates my nostrils, my soul is restored.

I'm a long, hot shower girl.

What's your guilty pleasure?

What I Think About: "That's So Gay"

When I taught, my classroom was filled with middle school aged children.  For some people, that raises the hair on your neck and you just audibly gagged and now you are thinking about nominating me for sainthood.  I know middle school kids aren't for everyone but I LOVE that age group.  I think it has something to do with me being incredibly awkward; I tend to fit right in.

One thing I can't stand about this group is the name-calling.  I know little kids call names.  I mean, just the other day my son called me, "Poo poo butt."  Ouch.  In middle school (and sadly, a bit younger) the names are getting meaner.  Bitch.  Slut.  Dyke.  Lesbo.

Now I'm sure all of us would give our kids a good talking to if they said one of those words.  But how many parents do you see challenging their kids not to say, "that's so gay!"?  Not many.  Right now, "gay" and "that's so gay" are terms used synonymously with "lame" and "stupid."  Regardless of what the term is a stand in for, it is a heterosexist slur--on par with calling women "bitches," the differently abled "retarded," and African Americans "the N word".

Is this harmless?  No!  According to GLSEN school atmospheres are filled with anti-gay harassment and 90% of students hear "gay" used in a derogatory manner.  So even though gay is NOT a synonym for stupid, lame, awful, ugly ... the word is used.  What then is a student who is gay supposed to think?  That s/he is stupid, awful, lame, or ugly? (Want more?  Read this article.)

"That's so gay" might sound harmless but for the student who is a sexual minority (or has a family member or friend who is) it is a hurtful phrase.  Sure it sounds "nicer" that dyke, fag, lesbo, and homo but the fact remains--you are calling a minority group stupid.  It's time to stop.

What I think is that the common phrase "that's so gay" is NOT okay.  Whenever I hear "that's so gay" I think, "that's so kid whose parents didn't love him/her enough to teach him/her to be respectful."





 I love participating in Shell's PYHO on Wednesdays!

 

Days of Play: Since it's Valentine's Day ...

You might as well go ALL out to let your kids know how much they are loved.

Now I'm posting this a bit too late for a "whole day" event but maybe you could plan this for dinner (who doesn't love breakfast for dinner?) or an after school snack.

First, cut out little paper hearts and write silly sayings/compliments on them.   Have your children go on a "heart hunt" and collect them all.  Read them together; share special stories about how unique and wonderful your kids are!

Photo from Our Best Bites

Next, sit down and share a meal.  This could be breakfast.  It could be dinner.  Either way, it will be delicious!

Serve heart-shaped pancakes with strawberry syrup.  Make scrambled eggs (you could just do whites, add a drop of red food coloring and make pink(ish) eggs.  Add food coloring to make pink milk.  Or whip up some smoothies.

Photo from Our Best Bites

Finally, give your children a small gift--bonus points if you make the gift AND it encourages family togetherness!

Pinterest has a million ideas.  My faves:

Source: familyfun.go.com via Reagan on Pinterest

Source: craftandcreativity.com via Reagan on Pinterest

Source: myhomespunthreads.blogspot.com via Reagan on Pinterest

Music Monday:

Chiptune.  Ever heard of it? Basically it's music based off of old video game soundcards.  Neat-o, huh?

What do you get when you mix a little rock-n-roll with chiptunes?  I Fight Dragons.

The Dragons are composed of 5 guys from Chicago with enough snark to make you smile and tunes catchy enough to start you car dancing.  Oh, and their website totally looks like an arcade game.  (If you want to see what I mean, click that link).

Anyhow, I Fight Dragons (come on--you have to admit that names makes you feel kick a$$!) plays on my fave radio station and I kinda can't get enough of them.  Take a listen.

First up, The Geeks Will Inherit the Earth (I have some anecdotal evidence that proves this title is pretty much TRUE.




Next, The Faster The Treadmill



Finally, KABOOM!





So, are you sold on Chiptunes?  You gotta admit, it's awesomely unique!

What I Think About: The R Word

Ever think about the words you use?  Everyday we use words that are actually unacceptable and if we thought about what they really meant, I think we'd be appalled that we used them.

Take "retarded," for example.  How many times have you said, "I'm so retarded" or "that's retarded" without thinking about what you are really saying?

Have you ever worked with someone who was, by societal factors, deemed "retarded?"  If so, then you know what a horrible and hurtful putdown this word is.  And if you've seen someone called "retarded" then you know that "sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me" is nothing but a LIE!

Words hurt.  They cut, jab, stab, and leave spirits bleeding.  Yet people say it anyway because "everyone says it." Did you get that reasoning?  We keep saying something because everything is saying it?  This circular argument is illogical.  And this word, is hurtful.

Now, the second I suggest we stop saying things like "retarded" peoples' defenses go up and they fight back that this is all "politically correct garbage."  This has nothing to do with being politically correct.  Is has everything to do with being decent, educated human beings.  If you can't think of ways to share your thoughts and feelings without degrading others then I'd like to make a suggestion.  Don't talk.  Seriously, if you can't speak intelligently without using a slur, then do what my 6 year old suggests: "zip it, lock it, and put it in  your pocket."

The Bible refers to the tongue as a powerful weapon so next time you want to use some slang, think twice, get a thesaurus, and re-word!


Thank you Glee!


I love participating in Shell's PYHO on Wednesdays!

 

Days of Play: Valentine's

Honestly, we don't really celebrate Valentine's Day.  I mean we do in that we love each other day but we don't do the forced "romance" date thing.  It's just not our thing.

But I have a mother-in-love who happens to enjoy doting on her grandchildren in the form of gifts for every holiday imaginable (and the grandchildren are totally amenable to this).  So, this year, in return for her Valentine's goodie bags filled with chocolates and stickers, we are going to make her a Valentine's keepsake.

I haven't decided which we'll do (or maybe we'll do all) but here are my Pinterest finalists!

Source: funhandprintart.blogspot.com via Reagan on Pinterest

Source: sherellechristensen.typepad.com via Reagan on Pinterest

Source: belladia.typepad.com via Reagan on Pinterest

Music Monday: AWOLNATION

AWOLNATION (yes, they spell it in all caps.) is an American electronic rock band.  I started my obsession with them in early June 2011 when I heard the song sail.  The love affair continues.


SAIL

 


 NOT YOUR FAULT


 

Date Night {IN}: Family Planning

 When you are Type A personality and you are married to a fellow who is Type A personality AND a lawyer, you tend to have your documents in order.  When Matt goes out of town, he leaves his will and end of life documents on his bedside table so I don't have to hunt for them in case of an accident.  No kidding.

My husband also happens to be getting an LLM in entrepreneurial law which means he is crazy into contracts and business plans.  I'd totally make fun of him but you should see me geek out over the survey tool maker I'm using for my Ph.D. work.

We are the Kaufmans.  We are bringing nerdy back.

I have a point which I will get to .... now.

For Christmas I gave Matt 12 Sealed Dates for the year.  January's date was called "The Business of Being a Family".  Here's what the card said inside:

The Business of Being a Family

A successful family, like a successful business, needs a mission, a vision, and goals.

This month, we will put together a family business plan.

We will:

• ·      Create a biblically based vision statement;
• ·      Create a biblically based mission statement;
• ·      Create goals on how to do faith-time as a family;
• ·      Create parenting goals;
• ·      Create rules;
• ·      Create a “plan” to keep the family marriage-centered instead of kid centered; and
• ·      Create a “bucket list” of 10 things we’d like to do as a family before our children are grown.

Before the date we each need to:

• ·      Find 3-5 guiding scriptures for our family
• ·      Write down 3 things you do well as a parent and 3 things I do well as a parent.
• ·      Write down 3 things you need to improve on as a parent.
• ·      Write down 3 things I need to improve on as a parent.

 During the date we will:

• ·   Spend time talking seriously
•      Spend time dreaming
•      Spend time praying
•      Spend time evaluating.

In the end, we will publish and post our family mission, vision, and goals.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Matt and I spent about three hours making brain webs and praying and dreaming.  Though this wasn't a physically intimate date, the daydreaming, the praying, the words of affirmation ... they all made this an incredibly intimate date on an emotional and spiritual level.  Though we haven't officially "published" our plan yet (because I'm still finding ideas on how to do this really officially/artistically), here is some of what we came up with.

VISION: The Kaufmans are builders.  Starting with a firm foundation in Christ, we will build disciplines of Godly people, including being fearlessly hopeful and generous.  We will build positive attitudes that reflect humility and gratitude.  We will build relationships that we passionately pursue and will be known as people who love.  We will build a legacy that reflects love and grace through our words and deeds.

MISSION: The Kaufmans will run the race with joy and will finish strong.  We will daily live a surrendered life.  We will push forward without looking back.   

RULES:

1. The Kaufmans will resolve conflict.  We will not ignore or hide from problems or conflict. We will talk openly, honestly, and respectfully.  We will seek peaceful resolutions. We will apologize.
2. The Kaufmans will treat people with respect.  We will be polite and courteous.  We will think more highly of others than ourselves.  We will acknowledge the feelings of others and how our words/actions affect those around us.
3. The Kaufmans will be purposeful with our actions.  The way we spend our time will reflect our values.  We will do what we say we are going to do.   We will be firm and consistent.  We will be honest and do work with integrity.
4. The Kaufmans will not be blind followers of society.  We will not observe customs merely for the sake of tradition.  We will live radically different lives.  The Word, not the world with its temptations and pressures, will light our path.
5. The Kaufmans will always try.  We will not say, "I can't."  We can and we will.  We will fail.  We will succeed. We will take risks. We will try.
6. The Kaufmans will be thankful at all times.  We are not entitled to anything.  We will live grateful for what we have and will work hard for what we want.  As we were given grace freely, freely we will give grace.  
7. The Kaufmans will share: our time, our talents, our dreams, our fears, our money, our possessions.  We will share.
8. The Kaufmans will not have anything they cannot live without. There will be nothing that impedes our pursuit of Christ.

BUCKET LIST (my favorite part of the date!)

1. Go to Disney World
2. Go on a family rafting trip (ideally through the Grand Canyon)
3. Do a family mission trip in a foreign country
4. Summit a mountain together (mountain must be tall enough to have a registry)
5. Do a radical service project for another family (our initial thought: buy a family a car)
6. Serve in a soup kitchen together.
7. Go one Christmas with NO presents.  Make memories instead.
8. Have the kids plan a vacation to the destination of their choosing.
9. Host a foreign exchange student.
10. Go see all of the Wonders of the World together.

Things I Love: Growing Older

Today is Ground Hog's Day.  For most of you, that means nothing except that a ball of hair is either gonna make your day by saying Spring is coming early or make you want to fry him up for dinner by saying winter is staying longer.  For me, it means adding another year to my age.

I know some people who want to hide from their birthdays and pretend they aren't getting older.  As for me, I'm so grateful for one more year.  What a pleasure it is to look back and see how I'm not who I once was.  Each year I'm being made new--more compassionate, more patient, more disciplined, more affectionate ... more.

Sure there's more of me too.  More wrinkles on my forehead.  More cellulite on by butthigh.  More blond peach-fuzz on my upper lip.  More.

In the end, though, I'll take the the "growing older" badges of honor with pleasure because crow eyes have nothing on a lifetime of laughter and wrinkles can't diminish wisdom earned (sometimes the hard way) and fuzzy lips can't stop a smile and cellulite ... can be hidden by a good pair of Miss Me jeans.

So as I climb the hill every so slowly, one year at a time, I'm determined to do so with grace and humility--being grateful for a life well lived.  Each day. Each year.

What I Think About: Facebook

Ah Facebook.  I love hating you.  Or maybe I hate loving you.  It's so hard to tell.

Watch this.  It's important.  And it's from Easy A--a movie I big fat love!




I took a Facebook break during the season of Advent and it was amazing.  I never knew I would miss Facebook so little. On the other hand, once I joined and stalked all my friends' pages, I realized how much I missed.  What's a girl to do?

Real Simple did a whole spread on Facebook in their  January 2012 issue.  It was great to see all the reasons why people hate Facebook.  And yet, we're still logging in.  As for me, I'm still logging in because it keeps me connected to a community of people I actually talk to; I don't want to miss out on that.  But I'm also logging in less because, as luck would have it, I can talk to these people on my iPhone and e-mail without all the irritating updates.

As a point of comedic relief, here are the top 10 updates I hate seeing on Facebook (which is precisely why I log in less):

1.  The "I'm digging for you to ask me about it" bragging update.

**I just got the best present!
**Test driving a new car!

This update can also read like like: 


The "I'm digging for you to ask me about it" sympathy update.

**Could this day get any worse?
**Life sucks!

2.  The "I will shove my religion down your throat" update.
** I just finished day 12 of the How to Parent a Christian child book and I feel so bad that all the rest of your children are going to hell.  But for mine, I'm going to discipline them and support their decisions.
**Don't pray in my school and I won't think in your church.

3.  The "Clearly Facebook is my agenda book so I will write my to do list on here so every one knows how busy and important I am" update.

**Today I'm going to eat breakfast, workout, read the newspaper, drive to Denver, eat at Old Chicago's, and buy a blue shirt."

**First I'm going to work out then I'll pick up the dry cleaning, and then I'll go tanning.

4.  The "Facebook users must know what I'm eating" update

**Tonight I'm making crescent rolled hot dogs with orange jello for dinner.
**Going out to Chili's for nachos!  Boom!

This is more irritating when it's a normal meal.  If you are making Scallops Saint Jaques, brag.  Hot dogs--keep it to yourself!).  Oh, and pictures of food?  Seriously, if you aren't a food blogger WE DON'T CARE!

5.  The "If you aren't in my political party you are clearly an idiot" update.

**Michelle Bachman is a witch!
**Don't bitch to me about the President.  I voted for the American.

6.  The "I know this is painfully obvious but I'm going to say it anyway" update.

**It is so cold outside!
**The Broncos won!  The Broncos won!

Thanks for the update folks but I have windows to see the weather and sports center to check scores.  Move on.

7.  The "I'm not clever enough to come up with my own status so I'll use a status update tool or post a photo with some lame, misspelled quotation on it" update


**Reagan is poking you with a spork.

This is funny.  That does NOT make it a status update.  The end.

Source: i.imgur.com via Reagan on Pinterest

9. The habitual "Oh dear God I am so in love with this man" update. 

(NOTE: complimenting your spouse or saying "I love you" every now and then is cute.  Doing it daily is irritating.  Use walls for that--not status updates.)

**My husband is the most magnificent man in the world!  I love him with all the lovely lovey loveness that I have!  And his arse ain't bad either.
**My beautiful bride brought me powdered donuts in bed.  I am so in love with the donut deliverer!

10.  The "I don't have a journal so I'll use Facebook" update.

**I'm at my wit's end!  Seriously, the dog puked on the carpet, the kids drew on the walls with permanent markers, and my Mother-in-law just chewed me out for typing in the address bar of her computer!"
**Last night I put on my swanky black thigh highs and slutty lingerie and did things to Dale that made the neighbors call the cops!

What I think is Facebook can be fun.  And irritating.  It's a love hate relationship.  Darn it!

Share your best/worst facebook pet peeves or status updates.  Or if you need to, confess to the above and resolve to STOP doing it! Thank you to Shell at Things I Can't Say for letting me Pour My Heart Out.  It's been a long six months.

Days of Play: Hide and Go EEK!

You've played Hide and Go Seek.   Really, that's for amateurs.  When you're ready to play big time, try "hide and go EEK!"

This game was introduced to me by my friend Krista.  Her family swears by its awesomeness.  My family ... agrees!

How to play:

Same rules as hide and go seek EXCEPT you don't want to hide from the searching person, you want to scare them (and make them go EEK!)  So get behind that closet door and where your seeker turns his/her back, jump out and yell EEK!  Bonus happy points if you get them to jump!

Music Monday: Hot Hot Heat

As I write this it is cold and snowy in Wyoming which is precisely why I decided it was time to blog about Hot Hot Heat.  My husband introduced me to this Canadian indie rock band.  They aren't my absolute fave but I like them.

Bandages




Talk to Me, Dance with Me (with a little cowbell!)

 


 21@12 (wait for it ... wait for it ...)

 

Fashion Friday: Fashion To Make

During the holidays I got an e-mail from a friend noting they hadn't "seen" me on Pinterest in a while.  The reason?  I was making the stuff on Pinterest.  Duh.

Glowmen.  Milk Paint.  Gingerbread nativity sets.  It was all very fun--almost as much fun as pinning.

Anyhow, I have a whole board devoted to stuff I want to make and, not surprisingly, a lot of them are fashion pieces.

Sooooooo .... here are a few of my faves.  And since my birthday is next week, go ahead and whip up one of these awesome little numbers for me and send it my way.


This shrug is made from a T-Shirt. The directions are for a little girl but I'm pretty sure it'll work for big girls to {ahem, me!}

Source: brassyapple.blogspot.com via Reagan on Pinterest

An Anthropologie scarf knock-off (because you can never have too many scarves. Neither can I. Just sayin')

Source: sewingin-nomansland.blogspot.com via Reagan on Pinterest

I must make a cute cover for my Kindle (wouldn't this be amazing in grey with a pink K?)

Source: curlybirds.typepad.com via Reagan on Pinterest

{Sigh} I need some crafty-fashion time.

Things I Love: Finding New Blogs

I don't have one of those ridiculously popular blogs and I'm okay with that.  I do like to read ridiculously popular blogs.  I also like to read little blogs that make me think.  Or laugh.  When I find a blog that really "resounds" with me, it kinda makes my day.

If that makes your day then let me make your day by suggesting a few blogs I just can't get enough of!

Spirituality:


If you like:
A Holy Experience--This blog is UBER popular and penned by the author of 1000 Gifts.  This blog is encouraging. It is convicting.  It has beautiful pictures and lots of free stuff!

You should try:

Only a Breath--A real, honest exploration into living faith.

Real Life:


If you like:

Things I Can't Say--The famous blog who I link with every Wednesday.  Shell is totally down to earth.  Funny. Sad.  Amazing.  I totally relate to her!

You should try:

Naptime Notes-The not-as-popular but just as believable journey of a mom, wife, and woman.  I love her photography and the simple way she lives life and faith.

Food:

If you like--

Kbelleicious or Our Best Bites--two quintessential food blogs (not counting Pioneer Woman)

You should try--

Frontier Kitchen (okay, this isn't a new blog BUT it is my fave food blog.  Seriously.  Look at the comments.  I try everything!)

Budget Bytes--Good cooking, on a dime.  Excellent recipe for baked pumpkin oatmeal and the world's yummiest, fluffiest, pillowyest naan!

Fashion:


If you like:


The Good Life for Less--a popular fashion blog dedicated to helping you tackle the hottest trends on the smallest budget


You should try:


GS Lillian-Baubles and Babble (and she's not afraid of color!)  Oh, and she's also not a college student!

What I Think About: Six Months Ago

Six months ago this week I wore a black dress.  I took a deep breath.  I shared these words with those who gathered to say goodbye to my mother.

What is love?  A gentle kiss on the cheek from a friend?  Words whispered in the ears of a lover?  A mother nursing her baby at breast?  Who now can comprehend love?  Define it?

I've seen love demonstrated to me a million ways yet one experience dwarfed everything I knew about love.  It challenged how I define love, how I feel about love, and how strongly I believe in the power of love.  In the end, I believe Death Cab For Cutie said it best, "love is watching someone die."

At the feet of Jesus, did that disciple, that mother, that follower understand the magnitude of love and how even in death, love frees?  Only love can fully permeate the darkness--a single beam of light in the dark.

Love is meeting a woman in hotel lobby, becoming best friends, and forming a bond so deep that no one would question why your children call that woman "Aunt."

Love is building a fence with a backdoor neighbor and spending thirty-odd years celebrating birthdays, laughter, burdens, and sorrow.

Love is lasagna prepared in the kitchen of concerned friends who want to help but don't know how.

Love is an e-mail sent at 6:30 am telling you that  you are loved and being thought of.

Love is a text at midnight from a husband who can't miss work telling you to hold your mom's hand while he prays for her--a couple hundred miles away.

Love is a Facebook message of encouragement and a promise to send strippers and tequila instead of a plant (I'm still waiting for both the tequila and the strippers but the flowers were lovely."

Love is old friends traveling far from other countries and states to say goodbye and to reminisce about how your mom stole exit signs and only drank once but was so drunk we leaned against the garage wall to keep it from falling down, rather than the other way around.

Love is hearing the tale of how your father met your mother and how, when they married two years later, they had only seen each other four times.

Love is the friend you joked with about aliens crying with you over a mom she loved, too.

Love is the in-laws who take the children so you don't have to cry in front of them or answer inquisitive questions about heaven.

Love is a care package from your mom's group stuffed with a good book, chocolate, tea, a journal, and liquor.  Of course, liquor.

Love is the people who know when to give you space and when to over-stay their welcome; the ones who know what you are really saying with each "I'm fine" or "I'm okay."

Love is caring for a lover like a child; love is sacrificing dreams of what could have been for moments--good or bad--that simply are.

Love is standing in the kitchen telling your son-in-law that if you knew forty-two years ago how it would all end, you would still do it all over again.

Sitting in a room, surrounded by family, watching my mom die, I finally understood love.  Even in her death, my mom teaches me--about life.  About love.

Love is messy.  It is not easily quantifiable or explainable yet is so simple the wholeness of it's meaning is expressed in three little words.

Love brings great sorry and great joy.  It makes you cry as easily as it makes you laugh.

Love is both random and steady--a feeling of falling and a matter of choice.

Love lives and though the ones we love may die, love never dies.  It grows.  It breaks.  It changes.  It stays the same.

Although we may be miserably broken over love, nothing can match the hope and joy that comes with having loved.  Love defies reason yet it is a reason.  Perhaps the only reason.

All I've learned about love is love is all there is.  In life--in death--love is all there is.  In my brokenness and sorrow I can celebrate the love of my mother.  All I am, all I hope to be, I owe to her.  Surely there is not greater legacy than love.

 Thank you to Shell at Things I Can't Say for letting me Pour My Heart Out.  It's been a long six months.

Days Of Play: Milk Paint

I so found this idea on Pinterest and couldn't wait to try it.

Seriously, an art activity requiring only stuff {most} people have in their kitchens anyway?  Yes please!

Photo Source

All you need is:

• Dish soap
• milk
• food coloring
• tooth pick
• bowl (I used a foil pie tin)
• paper {optional}
• paintbrush {optional}

What to do:

1. Pour milk into the bowl/pie tin,
2. Add a few drops of food coloring a few inches apart from one another.
3. Dip toothpick in dish soap.
4. Put toothpick in milk and swirl paint.
5. Do over and over until coolness wears off.
6. Then if you want, put a piece of paper on a cookie sheet (or the table) and paint with the milk.

What's going on, scientifically speaking?  I have no idea but isn't it cool?

According to Modern Parents: Messy kids :

The reaction of the soap disrupting the surface tension of the milk causes the colors to radiate away from the toothpick. 

Um, sure.  Whatever it is, it is super fun and the kids loved it.  

Music Monday: Coconut Records

Coconut Records=Acceptable pop.  Indie pop, of course.

Light-hearted--fun--(and closely related to Rooney ... mainly because the band leaders are brothers).

Enjoy (and then head to iTunes and buy it if you like it!)


West Coast

 


Any Fun (My fave!)
 

 Nighttiming

 


Coconut Records ... you like? You hate? You tolerate?

Things I Love: Gilly

Ever talk to people about Saturday Night Live?  It's kinda funny because you always seem to hear, "it's not as funny as {insert date here}".  For example, my dad thinks the days of Chevy Chase were the best.  I happen to LOVE the Chris Farley/Adam Sandler days.  That being said, I still love SNL.

Right now my current SNL obsession is Gilly.  I'm not sure why I find Gilly to be such a hysterical character but I do.  Every now and then my husband just looks at me and says, "Gillllllyyyyyy....."  He sure can make me laugh.

Gosh, I love Gilly!  If you want a little Gilly fix, click here!

Photo Source

What I Think About: Boob Jobs

Within the realm of my schooling I take a lot of classes on human sexuality and feminism and queer studies.  Last semester, in a human sexuality class, the professor asked about genital manipulation (code: boob jobs).

Oh my goodness, the backlash! Girls were stating how breast augmentation sets the feminist movement back to the Victorian Age and how sexualized commercialization of the body is oppressive to women and makes us "think" we need bigger breasts and how women who augment their breasts are further feeding into this mindset that women need to measure up to airbrushed models ...

Being the critical person I am, I shared a profound truth with these women.  If money was no issue, I would have my breasts augmented.  There. I said it.  I would have a boob job.

Do I hear crickets?

I shared my reasoning with these gals.  I'm a reasonably healthy and fit woman.  I've never had large breasts (or really breasts at all without the help of my padded Body by Victorias).  I can't exercise my way into larger boobs (though I did my fair share of "we must, we must, we must develop our bust" exercises when I was 11).  Though I work to keep my body healthy and fit, I'm unhappy with my breasts.  This makes me self-conscious with my husband (who, by the way, thinks the girls are perfect and can't wait to get his hands on them).  This was further complicated by breast feeding two kids which somehow managed to make my barely-theres sag!  Ug.  So, if I could, I would get my breasts enlarged.

Well, this brought about conversations about how if surgery would help my self-image, then it's okay.  If surgery is for medical reasons (cancer, post breast feeing sagginess) then it's okay.  If it will help sex partners enjoy the act more then it's okay.

What I wanted them to know--what I want you to know--is that the reason shouldn't matter!

Sure, over-sized breasts on TV and magazine ads can give us a skewed vision of what bodies should be. But so can other people telling what we can and can't do with our bodies.  A woman who feels like she HAS to have boobs to be sexy is just as oppressed as the woman who feels like she HAS to defend why she'd like bigger breasts.  I shouldn't have to defend my decision.  I shouldn't be made to feel guilty for wanting larger breasts if I don't have a medical reason.

I dye my hair {pink!} and no one has issues with that or tells me I'm setting back the feminist movement or that I'm teaching young girls that they have to be blond to be beautiful.

I have my ears pierced and no one has issues with this "mutilation" or tells me I'm setting back the feminist movement or that I'm teaching young girls that they have to be pierced to be beautiful.

I wear make up and nice clothes and no one tells me I'm setting back the feminist movement or that I'm teaching young girls that they have to own fitted blazers and pencil skirts or wear MAC to be beautiful.

So what is it about breasts that necessitates I defend my choice?  Why can I be vain and dye, pluck, primp, pierce, ink, apply, curl, straighten, run, lift, diet, and dress myself without being labeled anti-feminist but the second I try to physically alter my breasts, I'm the anti-Christ of the feminist movement?

Shouldn't the fact that I'm owning my body--that I'm proactively making decisions with the help of my husband and doctors--shouldn't that be exactly what an empowered woman does?

I don't desire breasts because I think they will make me popular.  I don't desire breasts because I think they will change my outlook on life.  I don't desire breasts because I think that they'll make me look younger, make sex better, "save" my marriage, or boost my self worth.  But I do think breasts could help me be more comfortable in my own skin.  Is that so wrong?

What I think about breast augmentation is that it isn't for everyone but might be for me.  Maybe this will be the year of the boob, for me.  But whether I get boobs or not (or the reason why I get boobs or not) is really no one's damn business.

Have you had your breasts augmented?  Share!  Would you have your breasts augmented?  Share!  Would you rather lick a giraffe's tongue then have someone touch your ta-tas?  Share!


Thank you to Shell at Things I Can't Say for letting me vent my argumentative thoughts.