Movies

This weekend I watched two movies...The Blind Side and The Invention of Lying. Both were good movies.

Sandra Bullock is brilliant and frankly the whole cast is brilliant in The Blind Side. They did a good job of casting the movie. As I watched The Blind Side I was amazed by Leigh Anne Tuohy's faith and willingness to help someone. As I sat there and watched the movie and saw how the family was impacted by Michael it amazed me. Here is a family that could have walked away so easily as many would have been prone to do. But they didn't they took in Michael and treated him as part of their family. The movie had many great lessons including judging people by the inside not the outside, going with what you want not what everyone else wants, realizing you can change your outcome, sometimes by helping others...you'll help yourself, and many more. It was a great movie that I think everyone should see. (J liked it too which is saying something because we don't always agree)

 We rented The Invention of Lying because we thought it would be funny. It turned out to be a bit more thought provoking that we thought. It started out somewhat humorous because frankly everyone telling exactly what they think all the time has a humor to it. I'm glad we don't live in that world. But as the movie progressed and he lied to make his mother feel better as she was dying it took a more serious turn toward topics like the afterlife, religion, and even genetics. It is a good movie that gets you thinking. And at the same time has almost a tongue and cheek smack against the way we currently run our lives.

Trying a new breakfast

Tried a new bar for "breakfast" the Kashi GoLean Chewy Cookies N' Cream it isn't bad but it isn't my favorite. It  is a tad drier than I like. I admit I'm spoiled by Luna bars. But I like to try new things from time to time.

Trying to get back into the habit of breakfast other than McDonald's which is costly both money and calorie wise. I need to restock my kitchen because I love a whole wheat English muffin with egg beaters, bacon (or Canadian bacon)  with a slice of cheese. But we are out of those right now so...time to go to the store.

What are some of your favorite quick breakfasts?

Clingy? Who Me?

As I have mentioned before I have a degree in Communication. I had to take classes in healthy ways to express your feelings. I know what you should do and what you shouldn't do as far as communication. (In theory) But I admit every now and then (probably more often if I admit) I have a break down in my communication skills. Last night was one of those nights...

First the background...
Since I began dating J I have changed in my desires...I used to go out with friends all the time. I used to never be at home. I would eat out a lot. Now if I have the option to stay home with J (or do something with J) vs going out without him...I usually pick doing something that includes him. I understand time with girlfriends is important but I enjoy spending time with J.

And because he is on shore duty I have been spoiled. I have him home almost every night. With the exception of a business trip on his part.

Current day...
He is out of town this week...he left at the unmentionable hour of 5:00 AM Sunday morning and won't be back until Saturday night. And I got a bit misty at the airport after I dropped him off. This is unusual for me. And I think part of it is that work is kicking my butt lately so my weeks are long and tiring and I don't have the energy I need.

Sunday when he arrived in San Diego it was afternoon there and evening here. We texted for a bit then he went to lay down for a nap before dinner. We talked a little bit more later that evening. Monday after his work he went for a run...called me for 5 minutes...and then got ready to go to dinner. Yesterday he got back to his room and wanted to nap before dinner so I got about 5 minutes of texting. And that is when it hit the fan...I told him that I felt like I was getting squeezed in, in between them. And he didn't take it well. (Both of us were tired) We talked about it but the resolution didn't seem to be coming because both of us were arguing but not listening. He felt that 5 minutes was sufficient because of the time difference and I felt 15 minutes wasn't unreasonable. He finally determined that he wasn't really seeing it from my side of view and I acknowledged that I needed to have some flexibility. So we compromised...

It is amazing to me how two adults can communicate around each other. And I admit I didn't handle it well and there are a million ways I could have handled it better. But I'm a bottler and when the cap comes off...the cap comes off. And I think a few things were in play...

• We were tired
• I admit I'm a tad jealous of him being in sunny and beautiful San Diego while driving a Mustang convertible (I want one so bad it is sad)
• I think him being away is a vivid reminder of what's to come
• Work is killing me
• Hormones are at play
• Our dogs were going nuts

Do you ever have days where you snap? Over react? 







 

Inspiration

My inspirations...

God...

My Marriage...

My husband...

My friends...

My co-workers...

My puppies...

Holidays...

Nature...

What inspires you?

Shoe love

I live in flats because I spend a lot of time on my feet at work. And sometimes I have to climb ladders, climb into an attic, and even move tables which are not things to do in heals...easily. Well my beloved dog Ares destroyed my beloved black flats and my brown flats died of old age so it was time to replace them. I searched and searched...either they had my size but wrong color, right color wrong size, or the cost was more than I wanted to pay. The other day on Famous Footwear I found these beauties...on sale. So I bought them... 

Unlisted Women's People Person Flat

 

 

 

 

  Me Too Women's Nyle 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Branding Yourself

We brand ourselves in a number of ways...

We brand ourselves with clothes. By the "brands" we buy, by the style of clothes we wear, by the colors, are they ironed and clean, or wrinkled and dirty. When I worked in clothing retail for a high end store I was amazed by my fellow sales people who would overlook someone because they were in grubby clothes. Their snub was usually my gain. I think about that now when I go out...what message am I sending by my clothing. Some days I care others I don't just depends.

As bloggers we brand ourselves by what we write...and what we don't write. We brand ourselves by the blogs we follow. And we brand ourselves by the look of our blog. Our blog is our online wardrobe of sorts it sends a message of who we are.

As I get ready to start my own business my biggest stumbling block has been my branding. I labored long and hard to come up with a name for my business. Thanks to a late night brain storming session with my husband my business will be called "Labors of Love." But now to brand it...for my store front on Etsy, for my business cards, for the tags for items, for packaging, etc. So I've been looking at a multitude of sources for inspiration. It will come to me...

What about you...how do you brand yourself? How did you decide what your blog or business would look like?

Office Supplies aka Things I Can't Live Without

When I was little like most little girls I played school or office often. And I liked making little notes, etc for people and leaving them around the house. Initially I used scraps of paper and tape. Then one day I was given Post-its. Oh how I loved them. And frankly I still do. I use them at work and at home often. So much so I have contemplated the Post-it Calendar. I like all the sizes and I love the bright colors. The newer lined ones make work notes even easier for me. I wouldn't work with out them.

Now I have a new office love. When we were at the bank one day the lovely teller loaned me her pen. It was wonderful. It wrote well and smoothly. And made my handwriting look better. I could tell she loved it too because she was watching me making sure she got it back. I returned it because I try really hard not to steal other people's pens because I hate that. But I knew I had to find them. So next time I was at Office Max I bought some. I currently use them on my paper calendar and love them.

I admit I have a weird love of certain office supplies...I think it goes back to childhood.

What do you love as far as supplies? Is there anything you can't live without?