Love Songs. Let's Do This.

We (my collective group of girl friends) have been discussing for months about coming up with some love songs playlists. We want one to be pure tragedy - you know, sobbing in the shower, tear your heart out and mail it to some who cares, sort of music. Another will be happy love songs - we're pretty sure this one will take longer because we tend to favor the gut wrenchers. Huh. I wonder why that is.

We officially started the lists today and I threw one of my faves in the ring - Lovers Rock by Sade. Do you know it? So tell me, what's your favorite love song? The tragic or non tragic variety are much appreciated.

"Not Cool, Robert Frost!"

I have to admit something. I believe Heavenly Father listens to us, that He hears our prayers and answers them. Not always right away, not always how we would like them to be answered, but all loose ends eventually get tied up. I believe it, I know it.

This darling video is honestly an answer to a prayer that I offered today. I wouldn't normally share but there's no time like the present to exercise a little vulnerability. I asked for hope. I asked for the strength to help me have a more perfect brightness of hope in my soul. 

As I watched this video my heart filled to almost bursting - with hope. This may strike you differently, or maybe not at all, but it certainly worked for me.

I hope you're having a hopeful day!

It is not easy… to wait. Waiting is what the hunter does, and the poet and the slugger. He waits for the moment of inevitability and fate and then he swings, or shoots, or takes up the pen to put down a line. They don’t teach us to wait in America; they teach us to grab. But waiting is what we do when we are looking for something beautiful, when we are looking for an end to our sorrow. Nothing is infinite in life, not even sorrow. 

- Cary Tennis

Faith in Humanity: Restored

It's not great to be running at the gym (<---humblebrag) and see a story like this. Crying means a tightening in the throat, shortness of breath, and the inability to keep my face from not crumpling. This is just a snippet of the whole story but I couldn't find that anywhere. The whole story is that this just happened last night and once social media got ahold of it, it spread it like wildfire. Athletes like Robert Griffin III spurred it along by retweeting it along with the hashtag #GetOwenGroesserOnSportsCenter. And as you see, today he is on Sports Center. Cue crying. Again.

I love when we pass on the good. It makes everyone's day brighter.

What Would You Do With......

What selfish things would you do if you were in the upper 5% of the wealthy? I wonder specifically about the selfish things because if I know my people, there would be lots of non profit organizations founded, endowments, hospital wings anonymously donated, etc. Y'all are good people. Good for you.

But what completely ridiculous, never gonna do it for yourself nonsense do you dream of?

I'm going to keep this list short because it could get long. Oh so very long.

I would have a hair dresser and a chef. Pretty simple, right? I despise doing my own hair and I dream of a day when it actually has some semblance of volume. I would pay someone handsomely to come to my house every day to rock my locks. Then a chef to make me delicious, yet healthy, vegetarian food all day. I like to eat a lot. I'm not saying that I really, really enjoy eating (even though it's true), I'm saying I like to eat large quantities. Food en masse. A chef could make it healthy and delicious and I would just win at life. That's all I want, just to win at life. No big deal.

So tell me, what's your most frivolous fantasy?

I'm Torn

I was thinking about fictional groups of friends (in movies) that I would want to hang out with. Do you ever do that? Wish they were real and someone you could call because their character is just that awesome? I get a bit attached to movie and literary characters so I started thinking of which movie friends I would want to lunch and go shopping with.

The genre of chick flicks/women empowerment movies provides us with plenty of good examples, however I have a pretty strict criteria for who I would hang with so many movies got weeded out quick. Example - I adore Pride and Prejudice and I think I could hang out with Jane and Lizzie Bennett, but I might scratch my eyes out if I had to hang with their other sisters. Or the girls in Clueless seem fun from your couch until you realize that the title of the movie is not happenstance. I like real conversation from time to time. I then settled on the Art Freaks in Mean Girls for a while (never The Plastics *shudder*) but I had to back away because it just didn't fit. And I'm not mentally or emotionally able to go back to high school.

I decided on The First Wives Club and Steel Magnolias. Both movies have extremely dynamic characters that are quite individual yet made for good group scenes.

Have you ever seen this movie? I does not get enough credit for the abundance of one liners. It is most definitely quotable, so quotable in fact that Jennifer Lawrence said a line from it last Sunday at the Golden Globes awards! I love these ladies - they are hilarious, scheming, independent, and looking for happiness. It hits kinda close to home, ya know?

I watched this the other day when I couldn't sleep. I would like to recommend not watching this when you're tired but can't sleep because you end up with tears running from your eyes and settling in your ears because HELLO it's just the saddest! But so good!  I love these women because they are sassy, traditional, hilarious, good hearted, and up in everyone's business. What's not to love?

Who would be your fictional group of friends?

That Just Happened

I pulled up to a red light and the man in the car to my left was tweezing his face. Like it was no big deal to tweeze the hairs from your face at 12:30pm on a Thursday.

What the what?

Tape Face

Pretty, am I right?

Check out BuzzFeed here for more like her!

(Who hasn't wasted tape on transforming their looks?!?)

This Makes My Day!

I found my new "pick me up" video - thanks Pinterest! (and Ashley for pinning it)

Happy Friday!

The Birds

Every day at 4pm they descend.

Thousands of birds are having a raucous love affair with the trees in my front yard.

 They squack and scream for about half an hour before flying from tree to tree to visit members of their crew. Thousands of social birds, every day, without reason.

It's unsettling, to say the least.

Like, what are they scheming, ya know?

Someday they will reveal their devious plan.

Until that day comes I will continue to pray for rain to rid my car of their 'remnants'.

Everyone Knows A Cosette

I saw Les Mis for the second time last night with a couple of girlfriends and, boy oh boy, did I have some thoughts and feelings. As adult Eponine came on screen Julie leaned over and said, "I am Eponine". 

I'm quite sure this phrase has been uttered thousands of times on hundreds of movie theaters in the span of a few short weeks since the Christmas Day release.What young (re: single) lady hasn't felt like Eponine at some point? You've met your idea of your dream guy and while your heart swells to dangerous levels he treats you like a pal. Oh the tragedy of unrequited love. You wait around day after day hoping he'll see you for who you are and will eventually recognize the brilliance of your pairing. Yikes. 

Then he meets Cosette. He sees nothing else after that. And you hurt. You hurt bad.

We all know the Cosettes. We might think things come easily to them. We might hate on them a bit. But I'm guessing they've played the role of Eponine once or twice before. We might want to think nicer thoughts about each other. Maybe.

The amazing silver lining in all this is that I believe with all my heart that we will all have a turn as Eponine and someday we will get to put on Cosette's fancy dress and see life on her side of the barricade. Unfortunately that also means that some girl out there will be sad and hurting, maybe singing in the streets about how she loves your man. 

I'm no Cosette - yet. Don't worry, when it's my turn I won't sing about it. No one wants any of that business.

Haven't Said YES Yet!

(I saw this broken do-not-walk sign in NYC in September. Totally a Stop! In the name of LOVE moment)

I keep getting proposed to. Boo hoo, right? Isn't this a dream come true for most girls? Absolutely. Do I have a board on Pinterest dedicated to the idea? Most definitely. Do I question the sanity (and hygiene) of the dudes who have asked for my hand? Without question.

The first time was in a 7/11. I'm sure my folks are super thrilled about that minor detail. I was checking out (hot cocoa, gatorade, and a Mamba...I know you were dying to know) and I heard, "Would you marry me, ma'am?". Here's the thing - if you want my attention don't call me ma'am. I will never assume you're talking to me because I'm still a Miss (actually I think I'm technically a Ms now but no. Just no). And here's how the rest of the negotiation went -

Him: "See she won't marry me"

Me: (I have finally looked his way at this point. Most likely with a startled/confused/elated expression) "What?" (I'm smooth, what can I say?)

Him: "You're just so beautiful, of course you wouldn't want to marry me. It would be like Beauty and the Beast"

Me: (feeling awkward, naturally) "Oh.........no.........heh..................."

Him: "Would you go on a date with me instead?"

Me: (I forget all words and how to use them) "Oh....no.......heh......"

Him: "What about a metro ride? Would you go on a metro ride with me?"

Me: (Finally! Something I can reply to!) "Well I actually have a car that's outside running right now but THANK YOU for making my day. Don't let anyone tell you you're not charming"

And with that I gathered my things and ran to my car.

The second time I was waiting at a red light and I heard the car next to me honk his horn. I looked over and he made the motion for me to unroll my window. How could anything go weird, right? And here we go with what went down -

Him: "I just wanted to tell you that you're beautiful and ask if you'll be my wife"

Me: (I'm an old pro now) "Thank you! Aren't you sweet!" 

Him: "You won't be my wife? How about let me call you? Can I call you?"

Me: (big smiles all around) "No, sorry, but THANK YOU! You made my day!"

*light turned green*

It's going to be pretty awkward when I finally get married and I have to explain to my future husband about how many times I've been proposed to. 

Georgetown Tour

My friend, Julie, went to Georgetown University for nursing school and gave us a tour a few days before we all scattered to the wind for Christmas festivities. It is such a joy to live in this area to bask in some of the oldest architecture in the nation.

First stop was a sandwich shop that was worth the wait! Meaning, we got our food and didn't get to eat it for another 45 minutes. Yikes. But holy moly - it was gooooooood! And they had a darling window display. Win/win.

After eating sandwiches (and convincing ourselves to go back outside -brrr!) she showed us around some of her favorite spots. 

Oh hey Julie! She looks like a legitimate tour guide here because she's gesturing with a poster she bought. Next time I'm getting her a fanny pack and bullhorn.

Saw this on an office - I like.

Who wants to come visit? I'll take you all over!

Girly

ILOVETHIS

Too many times I have felt as though I need to apologize for being a woman. Well you know what? I have feelings, I am affected easily, I love memorable moments, I take too many photos, and I am not sorry!

I have never felt this pressure from men, it has always come from other women - women who don't see the strength in emotion. The beauty and majesty that comes from the ability and blessing to be so affected by the simple things. There are some women who seem more robotic than soft inside, and that's fine, the world needs all flavors. However, discounting others' emotions as weakness is a flaw in their logic - not mine.

I don't always love all that comes with living inside my head but I will never regret my abilities to connect with people and to have a real, genuine human experience every day of my life. 

So I will be taking the challenge Zooey lays out in the last two lines:

"take it and have gratitude.

give it and feel love."

Gladly, Ms. Deschanel. And thank you.