A Little Inspiration

Day 5/30: Your Favorite Quote

I love words. I think we have tapped in on that little notion a time or two before...

Throughout my life, there has honestly been ONE quote that has really affected me and the way I live. 

What lies BEHIND you and 

What lies BEFORE you

Are small matters compared to

What lies WITHIN you.

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

The Hunger Games

Day 4/30: Your Favorite Book

I am a reader. I probably make it through about 7-8 books each month. I know that seems unbelievable, but I do. Barnes and Noble employees know me by name. My Nook goes everywhere with me. I use books as decor, stacked artistically under photos. I truly believe a house is not a home without a bundle of books that have been read repeatedly. 

I do not think I need to go into the explanation that there is no way I have one favorite book. There are so many great ones out there. So many authors that I love, so many books that have spoken to me on a higher level. However, for the purposes of this blog, I am going to list ONE book that has impacted me strongly as of late. (I know, I am finally following the rules!)

This book. Wow. I do not have enough words to describe the amazing depths of this novel. It is a young adult novel. It is a sleeper hit among giants like Twilight and Harry Potter, but it is every bit as engrossing, and dare I say? Even more well written.

As some background: this is a novel set in the near future in what used to be The United States. The country is now called Panem, and instead of all the individual states that used to comprise the USA, Panem is split into several separate districts based on what goes on there. For instance, there is a fishing district, a mining district, etc. Because of a revolution which the general public evoked upon the rich upper class people living in "The Capitol" the entire country pays a daunting price each year. As punishment for this revolution, the districts must select 2 young children each year to participate in "The Hunger Games" The children are thrown into an arena, which has been designed with many obstacles to hurt them and they must fight to the death...all while being televised for the amusement of the upper class.

This novel is absolutely gripping. I could not put it down. I believe I devoured it in about 4 hours. There are also two sequels, which are equally fantastic. It is equal parts Survivor (think reality TV televising extremely private moments and personal despair) and a study in humanity. The subject matter is unthinkable. But honestly, what would you do in that situation? You either kill or be killed. Collins brings about a slew of characters that you will despite and some you fall in love with and that will break your heart. I have never read a more thought provoking novel. It really brings to life what humans can do to each other. It is terrible. Beautiful. Astounding.

Cast of Characters

Day 3/30: Your Favorite Television Program

Typically, I am one of those people who really hates watching TV all day. The rare exception to that is if I ever wind up on TLC or Discovery Health. I could watch those shows like "Mystery Diagnosis" all day long. I think they are fascinating. 

I am also one of those people that thinks the "reality phenomenon" has gone way too far. Despite the fact that one of my all-time favorite shows is the reality grandparent, Survivor. There have been some stupid seasons, but there have also been some really great ones. I absolutely LOVED Survivor:Australian Outback. It was one of the more exciting seasons to date. I love all the All-Stars like Boston Rob, Colby, and Rupert. 

Apart from silly reality shows though, there have only been a few shows that have really caught and held my interest. My top three:

FRIENDS. My first favorite show, even when I did not understand all the jokes. I love Chandler. And I am Monica. Its just a fact of life. Could this show BE any more hilarious?!

 

One Tree Hill. The show that is my guilty pleasure. Well, not so much anymore. Once Lucas and Peyton were gone it just was not the same anymore. Great music always plays throughout these shows. I have grown to love all the characters. Plus, they're just so pretty.

 

LOST. My most recent addiction. I started watching it after it was already off the air. Thanks to Netflix, I had finished the whole series in about 2 months. This was an addictive, mysterious, frustrating engima of a show. I LOVE the characters...Sawyer, Sun, Hurley, Locke and Boone. And got a little annoyed with others *ahem* Kate. SLUT! Haha. I actually liked the end of the show too...lots of people felt cheated by it, but I liked it. There was some good closure, and it left room for the imagination too.

My Heart.

Twenty three years ago, on this day...something magical happened. My Joshua was born.

Although I was only eight months old at the time (yep, I am the cradle robber here), I am sure something happened to me to let me know my soulmate was just born.

All kidding aside, I cannot believe that a person like him even exists. He is the epitome of strong, growing up the oldest of 6 siblings has a way of taking your innocence rather early. I have never seen a day where Josh would not be willing to drop absolutely everything for one of this brothers or sisters. No matter what they needed. The love for his family is unlike anything I have ever seen. It is deep, unwielding...and honestly does not judge. I have never known anyone who can just love. Without judging. It is a sight to see.

He has such a funny streak, although he does not flaunt it or even think he is particularly funny. He has this mischievous twinkle in his eyes sometimes, and his favorite thing to do is tease and tickle. The only reason it is okay is because he does it to be silly. And it works. Usually I end up splayed out on the floor with tears running down my face from laughing so hard. His laugh makes my world complete. There is no chance that you can hear his laugh and not light up inside. It comes all the way from the depths of him. But he is not one to laugh out loud often. He is more of a reserved person. If we are watching a movie, he's more likely to crack a smile than laugh out loud unlike (obnoxious) me. This makes his laughs even more precious. I wish I could capture them and put them in my pocket.

I really just cannot imagine my life without him. I know it sounds cliche, but he is honestly my best friend in the world. He knows everything about me, and loves me anyway. He knows exactly what to do for me at any given moment. If I am fussy, he'll just walk in the door with a Coke...even though I tell him I cant drink Coke anymore. And he'll just stand there offering it to me because he knows I want it. He doesn't boast about knowing it. Just smiles and pulls me into a hug when I crack the bottle open. Somehow, he thinks most of my worst flaws are cute and endearing in some way. I do not know how he puts up with me sometimes, but I am so glad he does. I do not enter into this marriage with him lightly. We have both had our share of baggage. Some that still tries to pop up incessantly. But he is always there to remind me that none of it matters. That he loves me and would not want anything else in this life BUT to marry me. *melt*

Happy Birthday, baby boy. Without you, my heart would be missing the best parts of itself. No one else can make me smile, feel and love like you. You are my everything.

Movies!

Day 2/30: Your Favorite Movie

I won't even bore you with the typical speech about how I cannot just select one thing in life. Just know this: its not possible. 

I love all kinds of movies, I am even that girl who loves to go see an action movie in theaters. Something about the explosions and super loud speakers. It is exciting! I love when movies cleverly reference other movies or books. I love actors and actresses. And celebrities. I make it a habit to check PerezHilton.com on a regular basis. Yep...I am just that cool. 

Here are (some of!) my favorites!!!

DO.NOT.LAUGH.
I am being absolutely one hundred percent serious when I say that this is my absolute favorite movie. It came out when I was about 11. Back when the Leo DiCaprio fad was sweeping the nation. And yes, I had a lifesize poster of him next to my bed. I went to see this movie with my whole family on opening weekend. I don't think my parents were fully prepared for the booby scene. Awkward! After that, I saw it about 12 more times in the theaters and also reserved my VHS! copy at Blockbuster. I remember that it came in a two tape set, and I would always just watch the first tape so I didn't have to watch the sad parts. The other day, I found it in the $5 DVD bin at Wal Mart. I had to buy it. I can recite this entire movie from start to finish. I love it. It started a life long adoration of Kate Winslet and Leo. On a completely unrelated note, I despise James Cameron. He just seems like a money hungry jerk, trying to take the claim of releasing the "best movie ever made" Avatar?! Uhm. No.

This is my go to movie when I am having a bad day. I cannot be in a bad moon if this is on. Actually, during stressful times, my family just knows to put it on. For example, while fighting with my sister's hair for prom...as I am about to lose all patience, my mom just slipped it on and all was well with the world. You can constantly hear Josh and I throwing lines from this movie out in everyday conversation. And it makes no sense at all. One of my personal faves, "Yay! I'm a llama again!!!" Kronk is my favorite.

 

Did you know that this was the true story that inspired Shakespeare to write Romeo and Juliet? Well, you do now. This movie has everything I love in it. Action. Romance. Tragedy. James Franco...oh wait. Uhm...I really do love this movie for the story, the beautiful dialogue and the unhappy ending. Yes, you read that right. It kinda bugs me when every movie has a super happy ending. Real life does not work that way. I watch this if I am feeling particularly sappy or wanting a good cry.

I have Indicisive Disorder

Day 1/30: Your Favorite Song.

It figures that the hardest question in the world for me to answer would be the first one on my little bloggy assignment. You see, I have a problem. A big one. I love music. I can find a love for almost any genre of music, artist or song. The lyrics are just as important as the melodies and I commonly refer to every song on the radio as "mine." Yes, I am that annoying girl who is always saying, "Oh my God! I LOVE this song!!!" 

Ahem. That said, just know there is absolutely no way for me to pick just.one.song. Mmmkay? So here are my top five. I told you, I cannot be trusted! I am a rebel. Sheesh. 

1. She's Everything - Brad Paisley

The moment I heard this song, I knew...it was going to be "our song" forever. Josh heard it on the radio and played it for me later that night. He told me the lyrics reminded him so much of me, and him...and us. "She's a cross around her neck, and a cuss word cause it's Monday..." Then, for my 21st birthday, we went to the Brad Paisley concert. The lights lowered, thousands of shimmery lights started bouncing off the roof and faces around us, and Josh grabbed me, in the middle of an arena full of people and slow danced with me in the tiny space in front of our seats. I cherish that moment. And this song. This is going to be our "first dance" song.

2. Cavanaugh Park- Something Corporate. 

This song. Oh...this song. I always wished and hoped that I could be one of those awesome people who could sit down at a piano and play. Anything. I am not. I took lessons. I can play with music in front of me. But I cannot create. My brain doesnt work that way. This song is just...what I wished I could be cool enough to create. Classical piano technique mixed with punk-pop vibes. L.O.V.E. This is one I always put on in my car and just blast. 

3. Love the Way You Lie - Eminem and Rihanna
I am sooooooo feelin' this song right now. I love Rihanna's raspy, controlled trills during the hook. And I love the lyrics. I can almost rap it out now too ;) Josh loves when I do that.

4. The Way I Loved You - Taylor Swift
Little Tay Tay. I am surrounded by a bunch of Taylor haters. And I just do not see how anyone could hate her. She's such a little doll. And I absolutely adore the lyrics of this song. 
5. Rain is a Good Thing - Luke Bryan
There's not a whole lot I can say about this...except I LOVE it and its fun. Super redneck country, loud and silly.

......................................................................................................................................................................
I just asked Josh his favorite song. He gave me a crazy look and said, "I don't know!" Is it possible for ANYONE to have one favorite song?

After lots of digging and much harrassing (on my part), he tore his eyes away from Madden 11 and said, *gasp!*

Simple Man - Lynrd Skynrd.
That's my Joshy. His mama used to play him this song. He wanted to learn this song the most when he started playing guitar. And he can! I love this song too...it is just so....Josh.  Understated. Honest. Real. And a little out of control in the middle : )

An Assignment

I realize lately, that my blog has been a little lacking. Part of that is because planning a wedding, working and dealing with a move keeps me nice and busy. But the major reason for this is, I can only whine and fuss so much over wedding to-dos. I mean, how interesting can that be to read? And until I get more things DONE and photos taken to show you, I am deciding to participate in this 30 day blog assignment. I will be posting regular posts as well, but this will just kick it up a notch. And give me a record of how I was thinking and feeling the month before my wedding.

Here's the dealio. Each day, I post about one of these topics:
Day 1 - your favorite song
Day 2 - your favorite movie
Day 3 - your favorite television program
Day 4 - your favorite book
Day 5 - your favorite quote
Day 6 - 20 of my favorite things
Day 7 - a photo that makes you happy
Day 8 - a photo that makes you angry/sad
Day 9 - a photo you took
Day 10 - a photo taken over 10 years ago of you
Day 11 - a photo of you recently
Day 12 - something you are OCD about
Day 13 - a fictional book
Day 14 - a non-fictional book
Day 15 - your dream house
Day 16 - a song that makes you cry (or nearly)
Day 17 - an art piece (drawing, sculpture, painting, etc)
Day 18 - my wedding/future wedding/past wedding
Day 19 - a talent of yours
Day 20 - a hobby of yours
Day 21 - a recipe
Day 22 - a website
Day 23 - a youtube video
Day 24 - where I live
Day 25 - your day, in great detail
Day 26 - your week, in great detail
Day 27 - my worst habit
Day 28 - whats in my handbag/purse
Day 29 - hopes,dreams and plans for the next 365 days
Day 30 - a dream for the future

And because you know me...and I am a rebel, I will most likely expand on this thoughts much more than is exactly necessary. But that's why it is fun!

I think I am going to make this a little nifty-er and have Josh throw some input in here too, just for kicks. Since this is actually a wedding blog and about not just me (I know...I know) but Josh and me. And oh how I love that man. :) Come play along with me!