Thanksgiving has come and gone. The food has been devoured, the leftovers put away for future casseroles and lunches. We played Greed, Apples to Apples, and lots of Wii. And now my parents, sister Megan, brother John, and his girlfriend Stacie are on their way home. And I am left feeling kind of sad. It has been a really fun, busy day. I loved having all of the people here. I loved the many conversations going on at once. I loved all the help in the kitchen. I loved catching up on the news. And now it's just kind of quiet. I can just hear the football in the background and my tummy trying to digest the three different kinds of pie.
My cup runneth over. I am amazed at the many ways in which my Heavenly Father has blessed me. I have a wonderful family. I have amazing friends. I am surrounded by great examples -- people I can observe almost daily and try to be more like them. I have the knowledge of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I have the faith to know that He is in control of everything, even when it seems like the world is in chaos, I know that there is a plan. I have a living prophet to guide me and offer words of comfort. I have a healthy family. We have money for our needs and many of our wants. We are safe. My family can go to sleep at night and there is no doubt in my mind that we will all wake up and go about our day and be back together again the next evening. I live in a nation where I can study what I want, worship whom I please, and be who I want to be. I live in a time where I can keep in touch with cousins and old friends at the touch of a button. Anything I want to learn is at my fingertips. I can take pictures and videos that will last for generations. We have two cars that take us where we need to be. I can drive two miles and enter a store that has anything I could ever need to eat, clothe myself, decorate my home, or entertain myself and others. I live in a beautiful part of the world, where I am able to enjoy mountains, trees, streams, and wildlife every day.
Life is good.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Back in the Saddle Again
I haven't made an apron in a LONG TIME. I haven't even SEWN in several months. I tried to make some baby sets with the appliqued letters and bibs and such and my sewing machine decided to be difficult. So I put it away and tried not to think about it. Then I remembered that I signed up to do a fancy holiday apron swap. Yikes.
The requirements for the swap said that the apron should be a holiday themed hostess apron. We were encouraged to use nicer fabrics and up the bling factor. This apron is for entertaining in, not necessarily cooking in. I remembered that when Brian went to Singapore four or five years ago he brought back some silks to be used as drapes. They no longer fit our color scheme, though the pinkish color was hanging in the living room for the past three years. So I bit the bullet and cut out a pattern. I took a pattern I have made lots of times but I sewed three different layers together, each layer a little bit longer than the others. I got stuck a bit when it came time to finish the edges of the layers. They were fraying like crazy and I wasn't able to get a good crease with the iron. But Walmart saved the day and I found some bias tape that matched the gold silk, and they even had some metallic gold bias tape (who knew???) to sew on the transparent layer. It matched the gold snow flakes really well. I finished it off with a gold Christmas tree brooch on the waist.
The package has to be in the mail by tomorrow. Nothing like waiting until the very last minute, huh?
Friday, November 21, 2008
Twilight -- Part Deux
I went and saw Twilight again with a group of friends. Despite my previous experience, I really was looking forward to seeing it again. To just enjoy it without any expectations at all.
Can I just say that I REALLY LIKED it????????? My experience was TOTALLY different from the first one. The movie was the same. But my reations were totally different. I didn't find Edward as stiff. I didn't find the storyline as choppy. I didn't find the special effects as cheesy. Weird. I have a few theories.
One -- the audience. This audience was full of young girls and people who were obviously really excited to see the movie. The vibe was electric. There was very little inappropriate laughing, unlike the first night where people were laughing all over the place at times when it wasn't supposed to be funny. I think that really makes you sensitive to how the scene COULD be perceived and doesn't let you just take it for what it is.
Two -- I knew what was coming. Period.
So... if you felt let down the first time, go see it again. I am SO glad I did. And I need to get the soundtrack, too. Shannon brought hers so we could listen to it in the car. Very cool. :)
Can I just say that I REALLY LIKED it????????? My experience was TOTALLY different from the first one. The movie was the same. But my reations were totally different. I didn't find Edward as stiff. I didn't find the storyline as choppy. I didn't find the special effects as cheesy. Weird. I have a few theories.
One -- the audience. This audience was full of young girls and people who were obviously really excited to see the movie. The vibe was electric. There was very little inappropriate laughing, unlike the first night where people were laughing all over the place at times when it wasn't supposed to be funny. I think that really makes you sensitive to how the scene COULD be perceived and doesn't let you just take it for what it is.
Two -- I knew what was coming. Period.
So... if you felt let down the first time, go see it again. I am SO glad I did. And I need to get the soundtrack, too. Shannon brought hers so we could listen to it in the car. Very cool. :)
Thursday, November 20, 2008
My Twilight Review (DON'T READ IF YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW)
I am going to put my pictures from Tuesday night on here at the top so people (Shannon) who don't want to know anything don't accidentally read anything.
I wrote this review yesterday morning for Twilightmoms.com. They had a section where people who had been to a screening could put their thoughts for people who wanted to know. So here it is! There are a few spoilers, but nothing big.
It is going to be absolutely panned by the critics. I am sure of it. (Uh, yeah, I was right). The beginning is really slow. Really. Slow. Like so slow that I was wondering if I was going to be able to sit through it again on Friday with my friends. Rochelle said the same thing in the car. I think this is probably because it takes a while to lay the groundwork for the relationship and the movie and I already KNEW the groundwork so I was thinking, "LET'S GET ON WITH THE GOOD STUFF!!!!!" There were some scenes where the audience laughed and I don't think they were supposed to. Like the very first biology scene where Edward is so conflicted. And the dazzle scene. I agree with whomever said he looked sweaty. That was kind of the over all effect, though it wasn't THAT bad. There are some editing issues that I found, and coincidentally, both were in the scene that we watched be taped when we were invited on the set in April. I don't know if they are noticeable to anyone else, but they jumped out to me. There are some parts that come off as cheesy. And there are some parts where the acting looks not so great. But Rochelle and I couldn't decide if it was bad acting or how the characters are.
I know it sounds like I hated this movie. I really didn't. It was a rough start, but the ending was fabulous. Some of the camera work was fabulous. They did a really good job of keeping to the book. They did a GREAT job with Charlie and Bella's relationship. All the scenes with the Cullens are great. Like others said, I really wish there were more. The baseball scene, the hunt, the fight... all that is fantastic.
I think the movie was produced with two assumptions: You have read the book, and they are going to make a sequel. I don't know how well the movie is going to read to those who haven't read the books. Which is why I think it is going to get dismal reviews. There are enough akward/bad/cheesy/choppy/poorly edited scenes in the movie that will be quickly overlooked by those who can see the big picture and who already love the characters. But not by those who are coming expecting to hate this over hyped film. Some scenes and characters just don't even make sense in the movie if they don't make a sequel. Like Jacob. He is in here SO little and he really is pointless without New Moon.
I am looking forward to seeing this again. All off my presumptions and expectations are gone and I can just enjoy it for what it is. I tend to be hyper critital (part of that darn fine arts degree) and I tried REALLY hard not to be and I think I accomplished that. It was good entertainment and I think I had an objective mind. But I really think it would be impossible to make this movie appeal to every fan. These are characters that we have personified in our minds. The scenes have played out in our imaginations over and over again and of course our imaginations aren't the same as Catherines, or Stephanies, or anyone elses. I think it is the same as the Breaking Dawn. There was SO my hype, and all of us went into it wanting/expecting something. Some got it, others didn't.
So I give it a B/B-. But go see it. I know you all will, anyway. I am keeping my thoughts from all my friends. I want them to be able to go into it and take it as it is, without any of my opinions and thoughts. Like I said, I really liked the last half. If they could have put more of that action and intensity into the first half, cleaned up a few things, and fixed a few parts that came off as funny when they shouldn't have, it would have been a B+/A-.
I wrote this review yesterday morning for Twilightmoms.com. They had a section where people who had been to a screening could put their thoughts for people who wanted to know. So here it is! There are a few spoilers, but nothing big.
It is going to be absolutely panned by the critics. I am sure of it. (Uh, yeah, I was right). The beginning is really slow. Really. Slow. Like so slow that I was wondering if I was going to be able to sit through it again on Friday with my friends. Rochelle said the same thing in the car. I think this is probably because it takes a while to lay the groundwork for the relationship and the movie and I already KNEW the groundwork so I was thinking, "LET'S GET ON WITH THE GOOD STUFF!!!!!" There were some scenes where the audience laughed and I don't think they were supposed to. Like the very first biology scene where Edward is so conflicted. And the dazzle scene. I agree with whomever said he looked sweaty. That was kind of the over all effect, though it wasn't THAT bad. There are some editing issues that I found, and coincidentally, both were in the scene that we watched be taped when we were invited on the set in April. I don't know if they are noticeable to anyone else, but they jumped out to me. There are some parts that come off as cheesy. And there are some parts where the acting looks not so great. But Rochelle and I couldn't decide if it was bad acting or how the characters are.
I know it sounds like I hated this movie. I really didn't. It was a rough start, but the ending was fabulous. Some of the camera work was fabulous. They did a really good job of keeping to the book. They did a GREAT job with Charlie and Bella's relationship. All the scenes with the Cullens are great. Like others said, I really wish there were more. The baseball scene, the hunt, the fight... all that is fantastic.
I think the movie was produced with two assumptions: You have read the book, and they are going to make a sequel. I don't know how well the movie is going to read to those who haven't read the books. Which is why I think it is going to get dismal reviews. There are enough akward/bad/cheesy/choppy/poorly edited scenes in the movie that will be quickly overlooked by those who can see the big picture and who already love the characters. But not by those who are coming expecting to hate this over hyped film. Some scenes and characters just don't even make sense in the movie if they don't make a sequel. Like Jacob. He is in here SO little and he really is pointless without New Moon.
I am looking forward to seeing this again. All off my presumptions and expectations are gone and I can just enjoy it for what it is. I tend to be hyper critital (part of that darn fine arts degree) and I tried REALLY hard not to be and I think I accomplished that. It was good entertainment and I think I had an objective mind. But I really think it would be impossible to make this movie appeal to every fan. These are characters that we have personified in our minds. The scenes have played out in our imaginations over and over again and of course our imaginations aren't the same as Catherines, or Stephanies, or anyone elses. I think it is the same as the Breaking Dawn. There was SO my hype, and all of us went into it wanting/expecting something. Some got it, others didn't.
So I give it a B/B-. But go see it. I know you all will, anyway. I am keeping my thoughts from all my friends. I want them to be able to go into it and take it as it is, without any of my opinions and thoughts. Like I said, I really liked the last half. If they could have put more of that action and intensity into the first half, cleaned up a few things, and fixed a few parts that came off as funny when they shouldn't have, it would have been a B+/A-.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
My Twilight Night (NO SPOILERS)
Because I hate having things ruined for me before I get a chance to experience it myself, this post will be be totally spoiler free. It will have everything about my evening UP TO the movie starting. You may release your pent up breath now.
In April my friend Rochelle won a radio competition to go down onto the set and watch Twilight be filmed. For some unknown reason she chose me to accompany here. You can see many of those pictures HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE. That experience also included tickets to the advance screening that took place last night -- three days before the official release of the movie.
Both of us have been really looking forward to this night. There have been no reviews of the movie released yet, but we had both seen many trailers and teasers that the studio has released. They really have done a good job creating a monster with this movie! You will be hard pressed to find anyone who at least hasn't HEARD of it at this point. I took this opportunity to get a new shirt and scarf for the occasion and it was a good excuse to cover my grey. I knew it would be a laid back affair, but seeing as the target audience for this book and movie is teenagers, I wanted to look as cool as a 33 year old plump mother of three could.
I felt like I was getting ready for the prom. I'm lame, I know that. We decided to leave town at 3:30 even though we didn't have to be there until 6:10. We didn't want to risk traffic. We had dinner at Red Robin (Mmmm... BBQ Chicken Rollups) then headed over to the theater to scope it out. Thank goodness we did. It wasn't even 5:00 at this point and there was a line around the theater! I guess that bookstores had been giving out screening passes and several other people had won contests. The local press was also there to see it so they could write their reviews. We initially took our place in line. It was chilly and we were towards the back. We got to talk to some other fans and hear how they got their tickets and what they were expecting from the movie. Around 5:45 someone came through the line telling us that no cell phones would be allowed in the theater so we had to find places for them. Some girls behind us had been dropped off by their mom and were freaking out because they had no where to put their things. So I let them put their stuff in my car. It was while they were loading up that Rochelle found out our names were on a VIP list INSIDE and that we could have been inside in the warmth the whole time. So we headed in. Behind us in line was the actor who plays Embry in the movie. Very cool. We also met a really bratty local critic who I think was determined to hate this movie before she even saw it. She just acted like she really couldn't be bothered to be there that night.
Before we could get into the theater they took a few tips from TSA... they told us no cell phones, nothing that records audio, they had "wands" that the waved around us and they looked in all our bags. Serious stuff. The guy sitting next to us says that each advance screening copy is digitally coded and there is a security guard with it at all times. After the screening it goes back to Summit and is destroyed. Yikes. They are taking NO CHANCES.
So we got in and waited for them to fill the theater. We weren't sure at first if everyone (including the girls whose things were in my car) who was in line with passes was going to get in. But they did. The local stations did a few giveaways (Rochelle won a shirt) and we all got free wristbands and mints. They showed a preview for Push (another Summit movie) that looks pretty good. Then they got right to the movie. Yada yada yada... then we came home!!
It was very cool to see the scene that we watched them film. And to see places that I have been to and live near. And we were for sure the envy of all the girls around us when they heard our experiences on set. What a great way to round out the whole experience. Thank you Rochelle, for including me in your special nights!
In April my friend Rochelle won a radio competition to go down onto the set and watch Twilight be filmed. For some unknown reason she chose me to accompany here. You can see many of those pictures HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE. That experience also included tickets to the advance screening that took place last night -- three days before the official release of the movie.
Both of us have been really looking forward to this night. There have been no reviews of the movie released yet, but we had both seen many trailers and teasers that the studio has released. They really have done a good job creating a monster with this movie! You will be hard pressed to find anyone who at least hasn't HEARD of it at this point. I took this opportunity to get a new shirt and scarf for the occasion and it was a good excuse to cover my grey. I knew it would be a laid back affair, but seeing as the target audience for this book and movie is teenagers, I wanted to look as cool as a 33 year old plump mother of three could.
I felt like I was getting ready for the prom. I'm lame, I know that. We decided to leave town at 3:30 even though we didn't have to be there until 6:10. We didn't want to risk traffic. We had dinner at Red Robin (Mmmm... BBQ Chicken Rollups) then headed over to the theater to scope it out. Thank goodness we did. It wasn't even 5:00 at this point and there was a line around the theater! I guess that bookstores had been giving out screening passes and several other people had won contests. The local press was also there to see it so they could write their reviews. We initially took our place in line. It was chilly and we were towards the back. We got to talk to some other fans and hear how they got their tickets and what they were expecting from the movie. Around 5:45 someone came through the line telling us that no cell phones would be allowed in the theater so we had to find places for them. Some girls behind us had been dropped off by their mom and were freaking out because they had no where to put their things. So I let them put their stuff in my car. It was while they were loading up that Rochelle found out our names were on a VIP list INSIDE and that we could have been inside in the warmth the whole time. So we headed in. Behind us in line was the actor who plays Embry in the movie. Very cool. We also met a really bratty local critic who I think was determined to hate this movie before she even saw it. She just acted like she really couldn't be bothered to be there that night.
Before we could get into the theater they took a few tips from TSA... they told us no cell phones, nothing that records audio, they had "wands" that the waved around us and they looked in all our bags. Serious stuff. The guy sitting next to us says that each advance screening copy is digitally coded and there is a security guard with it at all times. After the screening it goes back to Summit and is destroyed. Yikes. They are taking NO CHANCES.
So we got in and waited for them to fill the theater. We weren't sure at first if everyone (including the girls whose things were in my car) who was in line with passes was going to get in. But they did. The local stations did a few giveaways (Rochelle won a shirt) and we all got free wristbands and mints. They showed a preview for Push (another Summit movie) that looks pretty good. Then they got right to the movie. Yada yada yada... then we came home!!
It was very cool to see the scene that we watched them film. And to see places that I have been to and live near. And we were for sure the envy of all the girls around us when they heard our experiences on set. What a great way to round out the whole experience. Thank you Rochelle, for including me in your special nights!
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
CUTE!!!
Is this not the cutest hat? Would it not be the talk of the school? Would it not be DARLING in photo shoots? Well, unless you have all boys... but anyway. You can WIN that hat HERE. Or you can buy it at the creators Etsy shop HERE. If you don't know about Etsy, it's a site where crafters and craft suppliers list their items for sale directly to the buyers. I love going there and just looking at all the beautiful, creative, CHEAP (sometimes) things. I have purchased fabric and patterns, and purses from Etsy and have always been impressed. It is such a great source of handmade items and inspiration.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Politics
I hate politics. I really do. I can't stand the stress and confrontation and ugliness and hatred that comes from them. It irks me that people can't just stand up and say, "This is what I believe" without tearing down the person running against them. I don't like that issues are reduced to black and white, when we know that there are so MANY shades of grey in between.
In case you can't tell, I am very glad that this election is over. I am not super thrilled with who won, but I don't know that I would have been thrilled if the other candidate had won, either.
I think that at least for a while, the change will be good. A majority of Americans have found a leader they feel confident in. One they feel is going to "make everything better." And if nothing else, he has instilled hope in people. He has succeeded in getting a record number of people to take interest in the country and to get out and vote.
I hope that he makes good on his promise to unify the parties. I am comforted in the fact that he has young children and that he is trying to do what he thinks is going to create a safe world for his girls. There are some of his policies that I cannot and will NEVER agree with. And unfortunately those things were big enough to me that I voted against him, despite agreeing with him on other issues.
But despite my mixed emotions tonight, I am above all grateful to live in a country where for better or worse, we choose our own fate. We put our leaders in power, we tell them what we want them to do, and then we live with the consequences of those choices. Obama has a chance to do great things. He has a chance to bring people together, to strengthen this nation. He's got four years to do it. If he fails, we get to pick someone else. I honestly hope that he can do it.
But whether or not he is successful, I am comforted in my knowledge and testimony that this is a blessed nation. That our Heavenly Father is mindful of us. That we have been warned of and told to prepare for a time when our Constitution will dangle by a thread. Whether that time is now remains to be seen. I am going to focus on the positives. I am going to continue to try to strengthen my family. I am going to continue to pray for the leaders of our nation, that they will be led by the hand of God to do what is right and best for our country. And I am going to go eat a piece of Halloween candy in celebration of the fact that I don't have to hear another political ad for at least another two years.
In case you can't tell, I am very glad that this election is over. I am not super thrilled with who won, but I don't know that I would have been thrilled if the other candidate had won, either.
I think that at least for a while, the change will be good. A majority of Americans have found a leader they feel confident in. One they feel is going to "make everything better." And if nothing else, he has instilled hope in people. He has succeeded in getting a record number of people to take interest in the country and to get out and vote.
I hope that he makes good on his promise to unify the parties. I am comforted in the fact that he has young children and that he is trying to do what he thinks is going to create a safe world for his girls. There are some of his policies that I cannot and will NEVER agree with. And unfortunately those things were big enough to me that I voted against him, despite agreeing with him on other issues.
But despite my mixed emotions tonight, I am above all grateful to live in a country where for better or worse, we choose our own fate. We put our leaders in power, we tell them what we want them to do, and then we live with the consequences of those choices. Obama has a chance to do great things. He has a chance to bring people together, to strengthen this nation. He's got four years to do it. If he fails, we get to pick someone else. I honestly hope that he can do it.
But whether or not he is successful, I am comforted in my knowledge and testimony that this is a blessed nation. That our Heavenly Father is mindful of us. That we have been warned of and told to prepare for a time when our Constitution will dangle by a thread. Whether that time is now remains to be seen. I am going to focus on the positives. I am going to continue to try to strengthen my family. I am going to continue to pray for the leaders of our nation, that they will be led by the hand of God to do what is right and best for our country. And I am going to go eat a piece of Halloween candy in celebration of the fact that I don't have to hear another political ad for at least another two years.
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