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.

Days of Play: Glowing Snowmen

I've already shared that I can never take down Christmas decorations fast enough.  But here's the catch.  Snowmen are not "Christmas" stuff.  They are winter stuff.  So sometimes, the snowmen plates and towels get left out until mid-February.

Seriously, it is WINTER people and in Wyoming, you can make snowmen in the winter.  Well actually, if we are going to get technical, I could share that it's been possible to make snowmen in Wyoming in June but then I digress.

Anyhow, reindeer and Christmas crafts are out and it's too soon for Valentine's Day heart crafts soooo, make a glowing snowman today!

My kids and I did this with cleaned out milk jugs, felt, a hot glue gun, and felt.  It took us under 15 minutes to make two and now the cute little things light up our home.  Awww.

Photo Source: Stuff by Ash

For directions, go to Stuff by Ash.

As a side note, I used felt, not paper.  I used lights on white strands, not green, just so you can't see the dark "insides", and I cut a small hole at the bottom of the back, rather than a big square.  That did make putting the lights in a bit harder BUT it's easier to hide the "point of entry"!

Music Monday: CIty of Lions

It might be too early to call this band a keeper.  I mean, the band has only been a band for less than a year.  But if I was a gambling gal (I'm not but if I was), I'd put money that this band gets BIG!

Named after a dream in which the lead singer found himself in a desert, led to a colony of lions wherein he was turned into a lion, City of Lions is made up of four young men (18-20) dedicated to the craft of making some seriously awesome music with the express goal of sharing "the true meaning of love."

Though the band members are Christian and their music examines Christian themes, don't let that scare you away.  Unlike many Christian bands who beat the love of Jesus into listeners with judgmental lyrics, City of Lions lets the message of love, peace, and grace speak, subtly, for itself.   If you aren't a Jesus believer, you won't be offended by overt "turn or burn" messages.  You will be wowed by good music.

Without further ado, let me introduce CITY OF LIONS.



For more about City of Lions, read this article or check out their Facebook page.