June 25, 2015 by Stephanie

Watching Lately

My TV habits slow way down in the summer months, but I have a few shows I have been keeping up with.

So You Think You Can Dance

This is one of my favorite shows. The talent and creativity shown is just inspiring. Many of the top 10 end up going on to Dancing With the Stars, so obviously I love the connection. I really like the new judging panel of Nigel, Paula Abdul, and Jason Derulo. Paula is really quirky, and she wears her emotions on her face or by the noises she makes. So you can tell right off the bat whether she likes something or not. I was really surprised by Jason’s dance knowledge, but come to find out he was classically trained in dance since he was really little (like 4 years old I think). And Nigel is just Nigel, the crusty old British judge. They are now done with the auditions, so next week we will see Vegas week. That week always makes me nervous because it really pushes people to their limits, and some prosper and some fail miserably. I do think this new format of street vs stage is interesting. I am not completely sure how it will play out yet, so I don’t know if I like it yet. I love the idea of the mentorship with Twitch and Travis. I think that will be a really cool dynamic to bring to the set. There have been some phenomenal dancers, so I can’t wait to see the numbers they come up with. I loved Jim the ballet dancer if you were curious.

The Bachelorette

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Oh. My. This season. I don’t even really know where to begin with my comments. Kaitlyn really does her own thing, which I can appreciate to an extent. I do agree with her that she does need to kiss people to see if there is that intimate connection, but I still am not sure how I feel about what happened Monday and how far she has gone. That isn’t a route I would go, but that’s apparently her prerogative so who am I to judge her choices. I also wouldn’t go on a reality TV show to find my husband, so there is that. I do not really like Nick being on the show in the first place. I was not the biggest fan of his when he was dating Andi, and I think he is still kind of a sleazeball. And I think there is something fishy about him waiting until the show actually started to reach out to her instead of when they were “talking” before the show began. I think it will be interesting to see how this talk with Shawn goes. I think Kaitlyn is going to blow her secret and the real drama will begin. Also I really liked Shawn until he started showing all the jealousy and got drunk off it. It kind of ruined him for me. You know what you are getting yourself into when you sign up for this show. She is dating 25 men AT THE SAME TIME. Anyway, that convo will be something. I really DO NOT like this new format of doing a cliff hanger every week with the rose ceremonies. It is driving me crazy that they are at the beginning of the episodes now. Grrrr. My favorites after this week are Joe, Jared, Chris, and both Bens. Ben H. is my first choice for her. He seems like someone who can keep up with her wit but also keep her grounded.

Pretty Little Liars

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They said this season would be all about answers, but four episodes in I still only have questions! I honestly have no clue what is going on. But I guess that is the attraction to this show. I wonder if these girls will finally graduate? Also did you know that the actress who play Ali is only 19 in real life? That means she was super young when the show started. Anyway about the show, it is still packed with drama. I am skeptical of this new cop, but you are always skeptical of new characters on this show. I have no idea if Charles is alive or not, but obviously there is something surrounding his time in Radley. Initially I do think that he is alive, and he is taking his frustration out on Ali for living the life he should have, but that doesn’t explain why he hates the other girls. I also think there is something not right about Sara. She is creeping me out. I don’t have much more to say because I am so utterly lost when it comes to PLL.

The Whispers

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This is a new show on ABC. When I saw the commercials initially, I thought no way jose. It looked creepy and scary and not up my alley at all. But it comes on right after the Bachelorette, so I caught the first 5 minutes of the pilot, and I couldn’t help but get sucked in. It is really creepy, but I am hooked on the suspense. I don’t think I can really explain the plot because there are so many different variables that when I try to explain it becomes really confusing. But the premise is there is this entity that is speaking to children and getting them to play this game to do pretty awful things. The parents think this “Drill” is an imaginary friend. And all of the parents seem to have some high power/influenced job. I feel like the ultimate result is world domination through these awful acts these kids are doing (like making their mom fall out of a tree house). There are some other plot lines that are playing into it that I haven’t figured out, but it is only few episodes in. If you are looking for something with a little mystery and suspense this is a great show. It is a little more on the SciFy realm–a little. These kids are phenomenal actors too! This is not a show I can watch before bed (because I am like a child and will have legit nightmares).

The Astronaut Wives Club

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This is based on the book by Lily Koppel. I have had this book on my to-read list for a long time, and I have now since ordered it and will be my next book to read. I have only seen the pilot of this show since it just started last week. Naturally, I love a good period piece show, and this era is on of my favorites stylistically. I could just watch the show to see what the women are wearing and be just fine. So since this is based on a true story, and since I haven’t read the book yet, I was on the interwebs most of the episode to see how much of it was actually true. I would have to say for Hollywood standards, they did a pretty decent job (at least from my brief internet research). Some of the pictures they staged for the magazine, are exactly the ones they did in real life, wardrobe and all. This show is meant to show the side of the wives of the Mercury Seven, which was the space program for the first US man in space. These women became famous and model “homemakers” during this time thanks to a spread in Time Magazine. I am really fascinated by this, so I will definitely be tuning in for every episode. I do know that right now they have only guaranteed this as a summer 10 episode mini-series unless it does extremely well. Then they may come back for another season. From just the pilot alone, I think this would be a great summer investment! (Although, I may just record all the episodes knowing there are only 10, and wait until I finish the book to watch the rest.)

What are you watching this summer? Have you seen any of these shows?

June 24, 2015 by Stephanie

Fit for Me 25/52

What I did last week:

Saturday-BodyPump for an hour. I made it through every track friends. Progress. And my favorite teacher was there!

Sunday-BodyJam for an hour. This is that dance class that is taught by the 60 year old free spirit. Y’all, this is one woman that I would choose to kick my butt every day. I get such a great workout when I go to this class. Sweat is ~~dripping~~ flying off me by the mid point, and it is great. It is such a great class to just let loose and really get your muscles moving. It reaffirms though that this white girl has no business on a dance floor. I can get the moves eventually, but there are some that just do not come naturally. But I am there to have fun and sweat my booty off!

Monday-20 minute core workout.

Impressed by:

I made it through every track in BodyPump. I may have been on baby weights, but I made it none the less. Look at these mom guns.

Struggled with:

I will be honest. I have given up on the plank and push-up challenge. It is doing nothing for me but making me frustrated. I realize that doing 5 minute planks, while admirable, is not something that defines my fitness level. So I am not going to keep doing something that makes me hate myself every night.

Did I meet my goal from last week?

While I wasn’t really more consistent, I did make it to two classes, which is something in my book.

What is my goal for next week?

I realized this week that my 10k race is a little less than 3 months away. I need to get my training started! I have printed out a tentative schedule, so my goal is to actually start that this week. Anyone in COMO want to run with me?

Fitness Thoughts:

I talked about being in a rut with my workouts last week, so I did some online research to find something to kick me into gear. I found this app for my phone, Sworkit. It can work on Android or Apple products. I am just using the lite version right now to see if I like it. So far I think it is great for those days where I just can’t make it to the gym. I am not the greatest at following just a list and knowing how to do an exercise. I like that this prompts you as you are going, but also provides a video of each exercise so you know how to do it. It looks like you can track your progress, but I am not sure how much it shows you since I have only used it a couple times. There seems to be a wide variety of options of exercises (upper body, lower body, core, stretches, yoga, and cardio), and each area has probably around 20 different options. I think this will be nice so I am not doing the same in-home workout. You can do 5 minutes or an hour (or anywhere in between), so I like the versatility there. I used it for my core workout Monday. It was awesome. Once I use it a little more, I will update you whether it was worth it.

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Have you ever trained for a race? Do you use any fitness apps?

June 23, 2015 by Stephanie

To My Mom

Today is my wonderful mother’s birthday.

Y’all, seriously hands down, this is the most amazing woman.

I can’t even begin to explain what she has meant to me over the years.

She is a woman who has always been there, for the good days and bad. She has made us laugh with made up songs, kissed away booboos, and spent Saturday nights making mac and cheese with chicken nuggets so we could watch Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman as a family. (Mac and cheese is still my go to comfort food to this day.)

I remember summer nights riding our bikes in the Kauffman stadium parking lot. I remember going to the zoo to see our favorites: the tigers and elephants. I remember the time spent in the kitchen making cranberry salad and banana bread. I remember the picnics. I remember the Friday afternoon taco runs before we picked up my brother from school.

Now that I am a mom, I am starting to realize what she went through with us. I strive to live up to the standards that she has shown us as a parent.

She is a Godly woman to so many people. She was always “adopting” other kids as we grew up. Our house was always full and always fun. I don’t think she even knows the lives that she has impacted over the years.

You see my mom has been working in the preschool setting (in many capacities) for over 30 years. She directed hundreds of church programs over the years, which are some of my favorite summer memories growing up. She has taught probably thousands of young kids how to write and recognize their colors. I remember spending many nights and weekends in her classroom trying to set things up for her kids or paint the elaborate backdrops for the musicals. (Let’s be real, my brother and I usually watched Lion King or begged her to get out the tumbling mats…) But more importantly she has made every kid who has walked into her classroom feel special and loved.

She is humble, generous, and is more likely to stay in the background so others can shine. But little does she know that her support has meant the world to so many. She has always lived a fairly simple life so she can provide for not just my brother and I, but to so many other kids and families who have come through her life. She always showed us what it meant to be a servant of the Lord and serve others fully.

I only hope that I can be half the mom and woman that she is.

And it is so fun to watch her in her newest role as Gammy to Addison and George.

I feel like I am just rambling because it is hard to put it fully into words what she has meant to me as a mom and a person of guidance in my life.

So simply put…

I love you Mom! You deserve the best on your birthday!

June 22, 2015 by Stephanie

A Father’s Interview

I still find it funny that on our first date, Tom explicitly told me he did not want to have kids.

Here we are 8 years later celebrating his first Father’s Day.

These pictures were part of Tom’s Father’s Day gift. We are going to blow them up and hang them up in his new workshop.

I asked the new dad to reflect a little.

What was one thing you weren’t expecting as a parent? Just how much I could love a kid. I just had no idea.

How has being a dad changed you? I worry a lot. So much of the things I used to worry about for myself, I worry for him now.

What has scared you the most about parenthood? Now it’s my job to turn my kid into a decent human being. It’s one thing to do that for yourself, but to get someone else to the point where they are a decent human being is a huge task. So much of the current generation are mean and self-entitled, and I want George to grow up knowing that his failures and successes are his alone.

What have you loved/enjoyed the most about being a dad? When I get to Brenda’s (our baby sitter) and he knows who I am, and then smiles because I am there. Also using George as an excuse not to do social things because I am a homebody.

What is one thing you did as a child that you want to do with our kids? Just the outdoors in general.

What do you want to teach George? Lots of things: How to be self-reliant, like no matter what happens he can handle it and thrive in that situation. Success in life is 100% based on the work you are willing to put in. I want to teach him to be the kind of adult that puts his morals and integrity before anything else.

Anything you are looking forward to in your 2nd year as a dad? Giving George the house and the room to explore that he deserves. I am excited to be able to finally communicate and find out what’s going on in that little mind.

What is your advice to new dad’s? Don’t listen to the naysayers. Your life isn’t over once you become a dad. Do it your way. No matter how you raise your kid or what decision you make, someone out there will say you are a bad parent. Parent the way that you think is the best for your kid.

baby uniforms

Tom is such a sweet dad. He is quirky and real with George. I love watching the two of them together, and their relationship is already a special one. I can see that it is hard for Tom to be away from George on his long shifts. He tries to make the most of the time they have together, even if that means that he just is holding George’s hand in the middle of the night while George is asleep. George just loves his daddy, and I can tell he already sees him as his own hero.

It has been a wild ride so far since we became parents.

I cannot wait to see their relationship blossom even more. Can you imagine Talks with Tom AND George? I can’t wait.

June 19, 2015 by Stephanie

Book Review-The Longest Ride

First of all, thank you for the sweet comments to my post yesterday. Sometimes it can be scary to be raw and open on the blog, but it is nice to know that it is well received. It meant a lot.

Secondly, I am here to announce that finally. FINALLY. my book rut is over. Bring all the books to me.

I just finished The Longest Ride by Nicholas Sparks last week, and I am already halfway through another book. Yes, yes, and yes.

I knew a book from good ol’ Nick would get me back.

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In true Sparks fashion, this is a book about love.

But what I love about this book in particular is that it is two different stories woven together. One follows a new young couple and their journey to love, but the other follows an elderly couple’s memories of love with flashbacks of sorts.

It was a brilliant way to show how love transcends many different situations and can surprise us in so many different ways but yet be so comforting in it’s normalcy.

You knew that in the end these two couples would be connected, but the plot kept you intrigued until the very end. It was like a carrot being dangled. I just wanted more and wanted to know the why and how.

I don’t want to share too much about the book because the secrets within are really meant to be read, and not summarized by me a little ol blogger. I would hate to ruin it for you.

Here is the synopsis from Goodreads:

Ira Levinson is in trouble. At ninety-one years old, in poor health and alone in the world, he finds himself stranded on an isolated embankment after a car crash. Suffering multiple injuries, he struggles to retain consciousness until a blurry image materializes and comes into focus beside him: his beloved wife Ruth, who passed away nine years ago. Urging him to hang on, she forces him to remain alert by recounting the stories of their lifetime together – how they met, the precious paintings they collected together, the dark days of WWII and its effect on them and their families. Ira knows that Ruth can’t possibly be in the car with him, but he clings to her words and his memories, reliving the sorrows and everyday joys that defined their marriage.

A few miles away, at a local rodeo, a Wake Forest College senior’s life is about to change. Recovering from a recent break-up, Sophia Danko meets a young cowboy named Luke, who bears little resemblance to the privileged frat boys she has encountered at school. Through Luke, Sophia is introduced to a world in which the stakes of survival and success, ruin and reward — even life and death – loom large in everyday life. As she and Luke fall in love, Sophia finds herself imagining a future far removed from her plans — a future that Luke has the power to rewrite . . . if the secret he’s keeping doesn’t destroy it first.

Ira and Ruth. Sophia and Luke. Two couples who have little in common, and who are separated by years and experience. Yet their lives will converge with unexpected poignancy, reminding us all that even the most difficult decisions can yield extraordinary journeys: beyond despair, beyond death, to the farthest reaches of the human heart.

I love YA books, and Nicholas Sparks happens to be one of my favorite authors. I know he isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, and some people find that all of his books are the same. I think that he does have some underlying similarities in all of his books, but I think this one was pretty sharp with using two very different couples to show parallel love stories. But hey I am a sucker for a YA love story novel.

This review sums up my own opinions. I was not contacted by anyone associated with these works or compensated for my review. My review has not been influenced by anything other than my love for reading.

Are you a Nicholas Sparks fan? What is your favorite NS book?