Blog Challenge Day 29 AND my 101 in 1001 Final Update

Blog Challenge Day 29: Share 10 interesting facts about yourself.

I really don't think I'm all that interesting, but here ya go. I know, some of these are repeats (but if you are new to my blog, then these will be new facts for you).

1. I don't like my food touching. Honestly, I'm getting a little better about it. But still, if my green bean juice starts to run into my mashed potatoes or meat, I have issues. At Thanksgiving we get the plastic plates with dividers just for me.

This is my favorite kind of plate. Each food has its own place. No need for anything to touch.

2. I was the only child in my family (out of six) to attend elementary school, middle school, and high school in the same town. When my siblings were younger, my family moved around a lot. I lived in Austin from age five to eighteen. 

3. I don't like Starbucks. Granted, I don't like any kind of coffee, but I don't really care for any drinks from there.

4. I want to play a dead body on CSI (or any crime show for that matter). I can't act, but I think I could pull off playing a dead body. I think it would be cool to be on set of a TV show for a day, just to see what's it's like! I was an extra in a movie once, and it was a lot of fun! FYI, the movie hasn't been released yet, BUT if it ever is, I'll let y'all know the name. I was an extra in a scene for a baseball game, a parade, and town hall meeting.

5. I'm in the process of trying to write a novel. I've been in the process for many years now, I can't decide what I want to happen. If I ever finish it, I'll let y'all know.

6. I don't eat cake or pie. I know, I know, people always give me a weird look when I say that. I guess I COULD eat it, I just don't. It's not my thing.

True story.

7. I am a wannabe tornado chaser. Whenever there is a tornado warning, my friends are always texting me to make sure I'm at home and not out chasing it. I would never chase it on my own, but I would love to tag along with a professional tornado chaser. Tornadoes have always fascinated me. I know, I know, they can do a lot of damage, I wish tornadoes only touched down in empty fields and never hurt anyone. But still, I can't get over my fascination of them.

8. I'm a chocolate milk snob. I don't like regular milk, I'll only drink chocolate milk. And it has to be made with Nestle's Quik, I'm sorry, Nesquik, powder (no syrup). And don't even try giving me an imitation brand, I won't drink it.

I'm serious about my Nesquik.

 9. My hair is naturally curly (well, really wavy), but 95% of the time, I straighten it.

10. I despise the game of Monopoly. I don't really care for board games in general (having A.D.D. makes it hard to focus), but Monopoly is one I refuse to play, don't even ask me.

It's hard to believe it, but it's been 1001 days since I started my 101 in 1001 day challenge. I failed so miserably at it! Well, I got a lot of it done, but not everything. As promised, I'm donating $1 to the Special Olympics for everything I didn't complete. In the next week or so, I'll make up another 101 in 1001 that I'll try and complete. I did start on some of them, but didn't totally complete it, so I guess that is considered a "fail". For those who are new, here was my list.

In Progress

Completed

Unattainable/Failed

Places to Go, Things to See. 
1. Travel outside of the United States
2. Visit at least 7 of the 13 places in Texas I’ve never been (click here for that list) (2/7)

3. Visit Cooperstown (Baseball Hall of Fame)
4. Attend games at 5 MLB ballparks I’ve never been to before (1/5)
5. Go to Rangers spring training game (see here for recap)
6. Go to a George Strait concert
7. Visit Graceland
8. Visit Hollywood
9. Take a road trip with a friend
10. Visit 6 museums in DFW that I’ve never been to before (6/6)
11. Visit a National Park that I’ve never been to before
12. Go snorkeling

13. Go to a Spurs game in San Antonio

14. Travel to a state I’ve never visited 

-I didn't make it out of the United States THIS time, but hopefully in the next 1001 days, I will. I'll have to start planning a trip.
-I made it to seven places on my list of places to go in Texas.
-Still didn't make it to Cooperstown. Soon, I'm telling you, soon.
-I only made it to one new MLB ballpark in the last three years, that's upsetting. It's gonna take me FOREVER to see all of the ballparks and stadiums at this rate.
-I missed the George Strait concert. I hope he makes it to Dallas next year on his farewell tour. 
-Still haven't made it out to California, I'm hoping to make a trip out there next summer, Hollywood will be on my list!
-I only made it to ONE National Park in the past three years, and it was one I had visited as a kid. I really need to travel more.
-Still didn't go snorkeling. :(
-Sadly the one time I was in San Antonio during basketball season, the Spurs were on the road (I'm sorry Mavs friends, my folks are from San Antonio, three guesses which team I grew up cheering for).
Total cost: $9 

Home is Where the Heart Is. 
15. Organize hall closet (so I can actually see a floor).
16. Vacuum my living room and bedroom once a week for three months (3/3)
17. Go through my closet once a year and donate clothes to Mission Arlington (3/3)

18. Complete scrapbook for elementary school.
19. Clean out storage unit
20. Catalog all my baseball cards into an Excel spreadsheet
21. Complete scrapbook for college

22. Complete scrapbook for junior high/high school
23. Organize photo albums
24. Organize my sports/craft room

-I started cataloging all my baseball cards, I'm about 1/8 of the way through. Have I mentioned I have a lot of cards?
-I didn't even touch my scrapbook for junior high, high school, or college. It took me long enough to finish the one from elementary school!
-My photos are still in a giant box. I'm gonna have to take like a week off work and just organize those bad boys. 
Total cost: $4 

Money, Money, Money. 
25. Create a budget
26. Pay off credit cards

27. Organize all bills and financial docs
28. Carpool to work 2 times a week for 3 months (3/3)
29. Buy nothing but groceries for one month (meaning no shopping sprees)
30. Spend less than $50 a month eating out, twice (2/2)
31. Stick to a budget for 6 months (6/6)

-FINALLY! A category I completed everything in. Weehoo!!
Total cost: $0

It’s Not Personal—It’s Just Business. 
32. Clean off my desk an average of once a month (32/33)

33. Volunteer to work at the company Career Conference
34. Actually take a lunch break away from my desk twice a month (66/66)
35. Volunteer to work at the company Leadership Conference
36. Volunteer to work on the company's Habitat for Humanity team
37. Volunteer at the annual Seminars
38. Keep the plant on my desk alive (I tend to kill even plastic plants)
39. Check out job postings in other department, preferably the public relations department
40. Organize file cabinet
41. Keep work email inbox down to no more than 10 unread emails a day (I get over 100 daily)
42. File away old jobs at least once a month

-Yeah, my plant made it almost a year before it met its demise. Told y'all I'm not good with plants.

Total cost: $1

No Pain, No Gain. 
43. Finish Jillian's 30 Day Shred (I've started it three times already)
44. Eat no fast food for a week, 5 times (5/5)  
45. Do 100 sit-ups 4 times a week for 6 consecutive weeks (0/6)
46. Drink no Dr Pepper for a week, 4 times (4/4)
47. Go for a walk 20 times (20/20)

48. Work out three times a week for 10 consecutive weeks
49. Cook at home every night for a week, 7 times (7/7)
50. Eat at 10 restaurants in Dallas/Fort Worth I’ve never been to before (10/10)
51. Learn to cook 10 new meals (that don’t include the microwave) (10/10)
52. No sweets for a week, twice (2/2) (not including sugarless gum)
53. Attend one “dance” workout class at my friend’s gym
54. Take dancing lessons

-Yeah, the whole 100 sit-ups so didn't happen at least once, let's be honest.
-I probably worked out a total of 10 weeks, just not consecutively (okay, I worked out more than that over the past three years, but there were weeks I took off, either from being sick, too busy, or just lazy.) I didn't get 10 weeks in a row. :(
-Now that I live closer to my friend, I MIGHT go to one of these workout dance classes of hers. I'm still hesitant about it.
-Okay, there is a place near me that offers dance lessons on Friday nights. I WILL go one of these days, probably after baseball season when my life settles down some.
Total cost: $4 

A Mind is a Terrible Thing to Waste. 
55. Read at least two new books per month (24/66)

56. Make one of #55 Jane Eyre (been trying to read it since 1994!) 
57. Read the Bible in chronological order (completed in 2011) 
58. No computer (non-work related) for five consecutive days (5/5) 
59. Have a quiet time every day for 3 months (0/3) 
60. Create 3 new projects that aren’t scrapbooking related (3/3) 
61. Spend the day at the Dallas Art Museum, listening to the audio for the permanent exhibits 
62. No video, computer or iPhone games for seven consecutive days (7/7) 
63. Complete three group Bible Study courses (1/3) 
64. Watch 25 new-to-me movies from the AFI top 100 list (10th Anniversary Edition) (1/25) 
65. Read 15 books I haven’t read already off of the 50 Banned Books list (0/15) 
66. No TV for 3 consecutive days 
67. Keep a prayer journal for two months 
68. Attend a symphony 
69. Attend 7 musicals/plays (7/7) 
70. Write and post a book review on at least half of the books read from the Banned Books list

-I'm so ashamed I didn't read more. I'm seriously going to make it a point to read at least a book a week next year. I love to read, I hate that I've put other things ahead of that!
-I tried Jane Eyre yet again. ONE of these days I'll finish it.
-I suck, a quiet time is something I should do EVERY day. I'm ashamed I couldn't even have one three months in a row.
-I still need to go to the Dallas Museum of Art and just take my time walking around. It seems when I go, I'm with friends, and we are on a time schedule. 
-I only completed one Bible study course. Again, I suck. :(
-I can't seem to watch "top quality" movies, I watch crap "B" movies on Netflix. I will make it through this list. If I have to force myself to spend a weekend or two doing it!
-Again, with my love of reading you would think I would have read at least ONE book on this list. I'm so ashamed.
-Again, I'm ashamed to admit I didn't keep up with my prayer journal. Something else I need to work on.
-I made it to an opera, but not a symphony. Maybe I'll find one at Christmas to go to, I love hearing Christmas music!
-Yeah, I think I wrote ONE book review, and it wasn't even a book from the banned book list. Good grief. I failed so bad in this category! 
Total cost: $10

Do Unto Others… 
71. Make a donation to a different charity twice a year (6/6)

72. Send 10 snail mail letters to friends/family (not including holidays or birthdays) (10/10)
73. Donate items to Mission Arlington once a year (3/3)
74. Make a sack lunch to give to a homeless person
75. Leave an anonymous “thinking of you card” on a co-worker’s desk
76. Call someone who I don’t see on a regular basis
77. Mail a friend an unexpected gift (non birthday or Christmas related)
78. Host a “girls night out” at least 5 times (5/5)
79. Give a generous tip for a job well done (either at a restaurant, hair salon or nail salon)
80. Take a friend out for a nice dinner (non birthday related)
81. Sign up to be an organ donor- completed Jan 3, 2011
82. Finally cut hair and donate to Pink Heart Funds (or an organization like it) completed July 16, 2011
83. Have lunch/dinner with relatives that live in Dallas (I rarely see them)

-I did give a bottle of water to a homeless man I saw one day who was on the street corner, but I don't think that counts, so I'll count this one as a fail.

Total cost: $1

Just for Me. 

84. Start practicing the piano again
85. Treat myself to a Chick-Fil-A milkshake once a month (33/33)

86. Go to a day spa
87. Get a pedicure
88. Get a manicure
89. Buy a new outfit
90. Spend a day relaxing in bed completed 1/29/11
91. Go a week without complaining in traffic
92. Set aside at least one night a month as “me” time
93. Make decision about joining FBC (First Baptist Church)
94. Make a decision about buying a Nook or Kindle
95. Be in bed before 10pm every night for a week 

96. Watch a sunrise
97. Watch a sunset
98. Buy myself a steak dinner at least twice (2/2)

-Kinda sad, I'm all about me, had no problem completing this category. 
Total cost: $0

I’ve Loved These Days. 
99. Blog about met goals at least an average of once a month (15/33)

100. Create new 101 in 1001 days
101. Donate $1 to Special Olympics Texas for all items not accomplished 

-I was TERRIBLE about blogging on my list (some of you probably didn't even know about it). I WILL be better next time!!
Total cost: $1

In the next month I'll be making my $30 donation to the Special Olympics. Again, I'll make my new 101 in 1001 next week.

Hope y'all have a fantastic day!

XOXO! 

What I'm Loving and Blog Challenge Day 28

Blog Challenge Day 28: A song that reminds you of a certain event.

I've been listening to this song a lot lately, I really like it. Jana Kramer was on One Tree Hill (I hated her character, but I really like her singing voice.) And I'm sure she's a lovely person, I don't want to judge her by the character she played. Anyways, this song doesn't necessarily apply to me right now, but it has in the recent past. And I have a few friends that it applies to right now, so this is for them (they know who they are). We've all been there with exes. And it sucks. But we get through it. :)

I'm loving...

The text conversations I have with my friends. They make me laugh (even when they are talking smack about my Rangers- YOU  KNOW WHO YOU ARE- yeah, I'm looking at you. This war isn't over yet!) ;)

I'm loving...

That Luke Bryan is coming to Dallas! He must have heard me complaining that his tour wasn't stopping in Dallas this year. I know tickets are going to be limited since he's playing at the House of Blues, but I'm so going to try and get one. I will stay out late on a work night to spend an evening with Luke Bryan. **sigh**

I'm loving..

That Siri has a sense of humor. LOL!

I'm loving...

That I'm going to my folks tomorrow after work- hello four day weekend!!

Hope everyone has a great day!!

XOXO!

Weekend Recap and Blog Challenge Day 27

Blog Challenge Day 27: Share a baby picture of yourself.

I know, I was stinkin' adorable, right? :) And I probably play the piano as well then as I do now. ;)

So, I'm a day late, but how was everyone's weekend? I had another busy weekend. Friday I had to go to my doctor for a biometric screening and physical. It was great to see my friend Pam (who is also my doctor), BUT I didn't enjoy having to give blood OR that I had to get a tetanus shot. BUT, I was a big girl and didn't cry, so I got a lollipop. And a Snoopy band-aid. ;)

Getting a shot like a boss.

Friday night I FINALLY got to hang out with my friend Aaron. I hadn't seen him since January. We went to dinner then went to see the movie The Conjuring. The movie definitely had its creepy moments. The best part was the guy sitting behind us who kept talking to the screen. He was like, "girl, are you crazy don't go in there", and "oh [heck] no, that didn't just happen". Normally people talking during movies annoys me, but during horror films, I think it's hilarious!

Me and my friend Aaron

Saturday morning I was lazy. L-A-Z-Y. I pretty much stayed in bed until 11:00am. No lie. Here is my Facebook status from Saturday morning.

 

Saturday night a group of us went to Fort Worth for Monica's birthday. We didn't get a group picture (I'm not sure how we didn't do this), but I did photo bomb a picture of my friend Lyn and her hubby John. :)

After dinner Monica, Julie, Laura, and I went to the drive-in theater in Fort Worth. We watched Mortal Instruments: City of Bones (which was a weird movie, I never read the books, so I wasn't sure what to expect). The second movie, Elysium, didn't start until almost 11. After about an hour, we were all pretty much falling asleep (and the movie was kinda boring), so we left. But still, it only cost $8 for two movies (per person). Not bad, seeing that a lot of theaters cost that (or more) for just one movie.

It's kinda tricky to find. If you are familiar with Fort Worth, it's over near the Fort Worth Cats baseball stadium.

Sunday after church I was lazy and watched TV the rest of the day. Oh, I discovered this SyFy show called Haven (ChillerTV has been airing it the past two months, starting with season one.) I had been recording it on my DVR since July and just hadn't had time to watch it. I started watching it a few weeks ago. I just started season three yesterday. Season four starts next month on SyFy. I found out my friend Khrystal also loves the show, so I believe she and I will start having watch parties when the new season starts. Just when I think I could get rid of cable, I discover a new show...I'm such a sucker. ;)

So, I do have to point out that I hate giving blood because I bruise so easily. I had blood drawn on Friday, and my arm still looks like this. :(

Why yes, those are Rangers pajama shorts I'm wearing. Ignore my pale leg, sorry about that.

Hope everyone is having a good day! :)

XOXO!

Blog Challenge Catch-Up

I know, I'm behind a few days on my blog challenge. Oops, the weekend got away from me, sorry about that. Anyways, here we go...

Day 24: What sports have you participated in?

I played soccer until my junior year of high school (I injured my knees and couldn't play anymore). And as much as I love baseball, no I never played that or softball. I throw like a girl, but I can kick well. :)

Soccer team my freshman year (sorry it's kinda blurry, it's scanned from my yearbook)

Day 25: What are some of your favorite memories with your grandparents?

Two of my grandparents passed away when I was really young, so I don't have a lot of memories with them. I have very little memories of my dad's father. I know he would sit in his favorite chair, and when it was time to leave he would always say, "let me see if I have any change for the children". My mom's mother passed away the same year as my dad's father. I can vaguely remember going to visit my grandma Frances (as we called her). I can remember the smell of her perfume (but I can't tell you the name of it for the life of me).

I'm sitting on my grandma's lap, and my nephew Danny is on my grandpa's. My sister Mary and brothers Mark and David are behind us.

I don't have any scanned pictures of me with my grandma Frances. Here is one I found on Facebook, not sure what year this was taken. I'm guessing the 60s.

My mom's father passed away the day before my 11th birthday. I remember for a while he used to live on the second floor of this garage-type apartment. I remember it was always 90 degrees in there. He kept the furnace going year round. He also collected newspapers. There were PILES of them everywhere. I forget how old I was when he moved into a nursing home, maybe like seven or eight. This is one of the last pictures we took with him.

Me and my niece Alice with my "Granddaddy" (that is what I called him).

I have the most memories of my dad's mom. I remember going to visit her in San Antonio when I was little. I knew we were getting close to grandma's apartment when we passed by "the big boots" (these are located outside North Star Mall). When I lived in San Antonio 10 years ago, my office building was very close to these!

The big boots!

Grandma moved in with us when I was 10, and live with us until I was almost 17. I remember when I was about 11, I was in her room, and she was teaching me to cross stitch (yes, I cross stitch). We were watching the original version of The Omen. She kept saying, "don't tell your daddy I let you watch this movie." I just remember the part when some guy got decapitated and I was like, "grandma, that's man's head is rolling down a hill." Perhaps this is where my love of scary movies comes in! I also watched The Shining with her. My grandma had a stroke in the mid-90s and eventually was moved into a rest home, where she lived until she passed away in 2001.

Me and my grandma- I miss her so much.

Day 26: If you were forced to go back in time to olden days, but were allowed to take 10 modern conveniences with you, what would you take?

This all depends what "olden days" we are talking about. I mean, if I go too far back, and there is no electricity, it's pointless to take anything that needs a charge. Wait- I'm over-thinking this. I'm gonna assume it won't matter if I need electricity or not. There are no rules in time travel, right? :)

-iPhone: because it would freak people out that I could do all these things with just a phone. And I'm going to assume that the iPhone would have my "time travel app" for me to bounce back in forth between now and then. :)

-electronic reader: I know, I don't even own one, but I'm probably going to want to read, and this will be easier than carrying boxes full of books while I'm traveling through time. Although I still support the buying of real books. I still like them better! But for time travel purposes, I would take an E-reader.

-sunscreen: As you all know, I burn easily. I don't know when exactly sunscreen was invented, so I want to play it safe!

-hair straightener: I look like a rabid poodle if I can't straighten my hair.

-toothbrush: okay, maybe it's not technically a "modern" convenience, I just don't like the thought of traveling without one.

-laptop: Because I'm going to want to keep a journal of all my adventures. And my handwriting is terrible. And I'm too lazy to write things out long-hand.

-Snuggie: I get cold very easily, so I want to be prepared. Also, the folks back in time are going to think people in the future are stupid for paying money for something that is basically a robe you wear backwards. :)

-Purell: I'm not a complete germ-a-phobe, but still, I like having hand sanitizer handy.

-Dr Pepper: Because I cannot live in an era where it doesn't exist.

-gum: I always have gum. Preferably cinnamon flavored.

I'll catch you up tomorrow on my weekend wrap up!

XOXO!

Blog Challenge Day 23- A Letter to A Younger Me

 

Day 23: Write a letter to your younger self.

 

Okay, I didn't realize until late last night this never posted, so, here it is a day late!

 

If I could write a letter to a younger version of myself, there are thing I would tell her that I don't want to post here, that's between us (okay, it's between me, myself, and I). :) Here are some highlights of what I would share from my letter:

 

-Always keep God and your faith as the number one priority in your life. There are going to be struggles and times when you don't understand why things are happening, but never lose hold of your faith. And don't let someone convince you your faith isn't enough.

-No matter what any guy tells you, you are worth waiting for. Don't let him convince you otherwise, he's not worth it in the end.

-Always be yourself- don't try to be someone different to impress anyone. Not everyone is going to like you, but that is okay. Your friends like you for you and that is all that matters.

-Tell your family and friends that you love them- everyday. You never know how much time you have with them. Hug them as though it's the last time you will ever see them.

-When someone asks you to watch the movie Meet the Feebles- run away screaming. Don't look back.

-Never let a guy come between you and a friend. He's not worth it.

-Heartbreaks hurt at the time, but the pain does go away. And you will learn something from each one.

-One day you will understand that your parents were right.

-Never stop writing, no matter what. It might not be the writing that you wanted to do, but you will enjoy it.

-Life might not turn out how you thought, but you will be happy.

 

XOXO!!

Thursday 13- Netflix Confessions, and Blog Challenge Day 22

If you know me, you know I love Netflix. I watch TV shows and movies that I have been meaning to watch, but never got around to them. Now, sometimes I find myself scrolling through Netflix's selections and I can't really find anything I want to watch. That is when I end up watching movies I had never heard of (or had heard of, but never had any desire to actually watch). Now, don't judge me, but here are thirteen movies I have recently watched on Netflix.

I have an addiction (lack of a better word) to BAD "B" horror movies. I'm drawn to them, like a moth to a flame. I can't help myself. Some of these fall into that category. Again, no judging please.

Forget Me Not- It's graduation weekend, and Sandy Channing, the popular class president of her small-town high school, should be enjoying the time of her life. But when her friends start disappearing, Sandy discovers they have unwittingly awakened the vengeful spirit of a girl they wronged long ago. Fighting for her sanity, Sandy must unlock a dark secret from her own past before it's too late. Honestly, the plot idea had potential...and that is where it ended. The only actors I had ever heard of were Micah Alberti (who played Matt on the TV show Wildfire) and Christopher Atkins (best known for his role in The Blue Lagoon with Brooke Shields). You had your "typical" teenage behavior throughout the movie. Their parties involved alcohol, drugs, and un-Baptist like behavior (it wasn't shown, but it was implied). Either Hollywood stretches the truth about high school parties or perhaps I missed all of those when I was in school. I mean, our band nerd parties got a little wild, but nothing like that! :) If you like "B" horror movies, and are already paying for Netflix, go ahead and watch this, I didn't absolutely hate it but I wouldn't go spend extra money renting it from Red Box or anything.

Fingerprints- Fresh out of rehab, a young woman moves back in with her parents and sister, and soon becomes involved in a mystery that has left people in her town paralyzed. Hey, this movie had Lou Diamond Phillips, I had to watch it. Okay, maybe not HAD to, but I like him, so I gave it a chance. The movie revolves around a story about a school bus full of kids getting hit on the town's train tracks like 40 years ago, and today if you park on the tracks, the ghost of the children push your car off to safety. If you sprinkle baby powder on your bumper, you can see their fingerprints. (This is actually an urban legend in San Antonio, I always wanted to go try it when I lived there, but never did.) The movie also has Josh Henderson (if you watch the new Dallas, he is John Ross Ewing) and Andrew Lawrence (brother of Joey Lawrence). Again, the plot idea had potential but the storyline had so many holes (I know, it's a "B" movie, I shouldn't expect much). The acting was less than stellar (except for Lou Diamond Phillips, of course). I wouldn't go out of your way to watch this one though, even with Netflix. Unless you are really, really, really bored (or drunk).

A Haunting in Salem- In this spine-chilling indie horror flick, a sheriff relocates to Salem, Mass., with his family -- only to discover that the house they've moved into is plagued by an ancient curse and haunted by malicious spirits. It pains me to not have anything positive to say about this movie because it was directed by Dick Van Dyke's grandson Shane (and you know how much I love Dick Van Dyke), but alas, I can't. Shane's brother Carey also had a bit role (his acting wasn't that bad, but the poor script didn't help it much). Poor Shane really needs to find better scripts to direct. Now, I recently went to Salem and the footage they had of a car driving around town looked nothing like Salem. Not even close. And there were orange trees everywhere. I don't think Salem is known for their orange trees (but I could be wrong). Yeah, if this movie comes on, run away. Far, far away, and don't look back. I'll put it this way- it made Sharknado look Oscar worthy.

House at the End of the Street- When a teenager and her mother move to a little town, the girl finds that an accident happened in the house at the end of the street. But things get complicated when she befriends a boy who is the only survivor in the accident. This one actually wasn't ALL bad. The acting wasn't horrible and the plot was entertaining enough. And this one had people I had actually heard of: Elisabeth Shue (Adventures in Babysitting, and more recently, CSI), Jennifer Lawrence (I've never seen The Hunger Games but I've read she's in it), Gil Bellows (Ally McBeal) and Max Thieriot (Bates Motel). Now don't get me wrong, the plot had some holes in it, and the acting was not "Oscar worthy", but they weren't too distracting. Again, if you like "B" horror movies, watch it on Netflix.

Elsewhere- A teen girl disappears after trying to meet men online in order to escape her small town. Apparently, only her best friend worries enough to investigate the mystery. I'm just going to go ahead and admit the only reason I clicked "watch" on this movie is because Paul Wesley (Stefan from The Vampire Diaries) was in it. It also had Anna Kendrick, who I think is a good actress. This is an okay one to watch if you need to waste 90 minutes of you life, but don't expect too much.

The Paperboy- A reporter returns to his Florida hometown to investigate a case involving a death row inmate. Now a movie with Matthew McConaughey and Zac Efron might seem appealing, but don't be fooled by that. This movie kinda disturbed me, and I can't really pinpoint why. And I normally like Nicole Kidman, but I didn't really like her character at all in the movie. I wouldn't watch it again, but that is just me. Although it was interesting to see Zac Efron in a movie where he didn't sing, dance, or play basketball.

Scream 4- Ten years have passed, and Sidney Prescott, who has put herself back together thanks in part to her writing, is visited by the Ghostface Killer. I'm not sure how I missed that this came out a few years ago, where was I? As cheesy as they are, I like these slasher films. Although I find them more funny than scary (of course, I think that is the point of them). If you are a fan of the Scream movies, check this one out. It's worth the time (in my opinion).

Keith-17-year-old Natalie thinks she's got it all figured out until she falls for a guy who has nothing to lose. I wasn't sure what I thought of this movie at first, but the more I thought about it, the more I actually liked it. The plot and acting were pretty good. Although Elisabeth Harnois being 30 and playing a 17 year old was a little distracting. But, it was only distracting because I know how old she is, she doesn't necessarily look it. I kinda figured out the ending of the movie, but it was still good. Worth a watch on Netflix (heck, it's worth the $1.25 rental fee to Red Box it if you don't have Netflix).

The Man in the Moon- Rural Louisiana, summer of 1957, Elvis is King. At 14, Dani is coming of age. Her older sister is beautiful, smart, and off to Duke in the fall; her mom's pregnant with number four (Dad wants a son), and Dad's pretty strict. Life gets sweeter when 17-year-old Court Foster, his widowed mom, and two little brothers move into the vacant farm next door. Court likes Dani's high spirits and direct way, and though he has a man's responsibilities on the farm, they go off swimming sometimes. The waters of adolescence are deeper than Dani realizes as hers and Court's feelings get jumbled. Then Mother Nature throws wrenching surprises at Dani, and she must come to terms with new emotions. I know, this movie is over 20 years old, but I had never seen it (I know, I know, I'm so behind). I liked this movie, the plot, the acting, it was all good (and there was Elvis music). :) I really like Reese Witherspoon and I believe this was her first movie. And I forgot how cute Jason London was back when he was younger. :) If you are like me and 20 years behind on your movie watching, check this one out.

Beauty & the Briefcase- A freelance writer looking for romance sells a story to Cosmopolitan magazine about finding love in the workplace and goes undercover at a Finance Company. Yes, I have to shamefully admit that I watched this one. It is your typical, cheesy, predictable, unrealistic ABC Family TV movie. Only watch this if you are really bored and want to bang your head against the desk after you realize you actually watched it. I'm serious- no matter how adorable you think Michael McMillian is, avoid it (he may or may not be the reason I watched it).

Madea's Witness Protection- A Wall Street investment banker who has been set up as the linchpin of his company's mob-backed Ponzi scheme is relocated with his family to Aunt Madea's southern home. Now, I like Tyler Perry. I know some people find him annoying, but I usually like his movies (Madea can be funny). This one is not one of my favorites though. It seemed to be missing something that his other movies had. Only watch this one if you are a die hard Tyler Perry fan. And I mean, DIE HARD fan. Otherwise, just watch Diary of A Mad Black Woman instead.

Maid in Manhattan- A senatorial candidate falls for a hotel maid, thinking she is a socialite when he sees her trying on a wealthy woman's dress. I'm not a huge Jennifer Lopez fan which is probably why I had been avoiding this movie the past 11 years. Eh, I didn't hate this movie, but can't say I absolutely loved it. It's your typical, predictable, romantic comedy. If romantic movies like these are your thing, check it out. If not, you aren't missing too much. It's probably like every other romantic comedy you've seen.

A Mile in His Shoes- Mickey Tussler, an autistic pitcher, joins a minor-league baseball team and has a profound effect on the team and manager Arthur "Murph" Murphy over the course of a season. Even with the flaws in this movie (and yes, there are some), I liked it. But I like these cheesy "feel good" sports movies. And you know my love of Dean Cain. And yes, Dean Cain was the reason I watched the movie in the first place. After the movie started, the kid playing Mickey seemed familiar to me. I looked him up on IMDB and realized it was Ricky Schroder's son, Luke. He looks a lot like his dad! Yes, this movie has a cheesy feel to it, and yes, it's predictable, but hey, with all the bad slasher films I watch, I deserve a "feel good" movie every once in a while, right? :) I think it's worth a watch.

Blog Challenge Day 22: What are some of your favorite holiday traditions?

I assume this means like Thanksgiving and Christmas (I'm sure it could be any holiday, but those are the only two holidays I really have traditions for).

Thanksgiving: If my family is all going to get together for a holiday, this is the one. Our traditions include:

-watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade (and having my dad complain that they show too much of the commentators and not enough of the parade). I'm starting to agree with him, we flip back and forth between channels to find the one with the most parade coverage. I don't care to hear an actor or musician tell me what their plans are for the rest of the day. I don't care what the commentators have to say about anything. And I really don't care about seeing some Broadway act or musician lip-sync to a song. Show me the floats, show me the balloons, show me the bands marching, SHOW ME SANTA! I can get violent over it. :)

-watching football. I know, this shocks you! We have our Thanksgiving meal around lunchtime. It is usually done just in time to see the Cowboys attempt to play a football game (we are disgruntled Cowboys fans, but we are still fans). Except my father, after Jerry Jones fired Tom Landry, my dad has refused to cheer for them. I think he cheers for the refs.

-Thanksgiving evening (or the next day), my sister and I watch It's A Wonderful Life. And we drink hot chocolate (despite the temperature outside), and quote the whole movie word for word, it's wonderful (no pun intended). :)

-we SOMETIMES start the Christmas decorating that weekend (it all depends if Thanksgiving falls early or later in November).

Christmas:

-singing Christmas songs together (usually on Christmas Eve around the piano)

-driving around looking at Christmas lights

-the past few years we have gone to a Christmas Eve service together at my niece's church

-On Christmas Day, my mother will answer the phone "Merry Christmas" instead of just saying hello. 

Do you have any holiday traditions?

XOXO!

What I'm Loving Wednesday and Blog Challenge Day 21

I'm loving...

Baseball. I went to four games last week and went to the game last night (yes, I have a baseball problem). My brother Steve was there as well with two of his kids and his wife. It was good to see all of them, especially my little nephews D and J! I had a bad day yesterday, and getting hugs from them made it all better!

Aunt Rachel with D and J. These poor children are being raised as Astros fans, it breaks my heart. I need to buy them Rangers stuff pronto! ;)

Fun times at the Ballpark. Yes, I'm loving my new camo cap they gave out last night. Who would have thought I would end up liking something camo?? :)

I'm loving...

This song by Luke Bryan. When I first heard it on his new album, I was like, oh Luke, really? BUT, I listened to it a few times and it has really grown on me. It has a good beat, I rock out in my car to it. No really, I do. I've been busted "car dancing". And I'll use any excuse to post a video of Luke Bryan on my blog. I love his accent. :)

I'm loving...

That my sweet friend (she knows who she is) sent me this reminder. It's so true!! I love it!

I'm loving..

This app called Relax Melodies. I downloaded it yesterday. It has all these relaxing sounds you can play when you are trying to go to sleep. I used it last night and it really works. You can even set a timer on it so it will only play for as long as you set it for. It's awesome! :) For iPhone users, click here on iTunes to download. Android users click here.

I'm loving..

This. It's so true!

Blog Challenge Day 21: How do you like to relax?

I would say I like to relax by watching baseball, but anyone who has watched me during a baseball game knows I don't always relax (I can get pretty intense). ;) I would say I like to relax by taking a long hot bubble bath or by curling up with a good book and just reading.

Happy Wednesday!

XOXO!

Blog Challenge Day 20- My Celebrity Doppelganger

Blog Challenge Day 20: Do you have a celebrity doppelganger?

I honestly don't think I have a celebrity look-a-like. I did find an app where you could upload a picture and it would pick celebrities that were similar to your looks. I don't see it, but here are the ones it picked (I used a few different pictures). For those interested, you can check out the app here.

I had no clue who she was, she's been in several TV shows, including All My Children.

I've actually been told I resemble Reese Witherspoon before. I still don't see it.

 

 

So, what do you think? Do I look like any of these actresses? What about you? Do you have a celebrity "double"?

XOXO!