I shun the latest trends....unless they're super cool

I try to be an individual.  Just because everyone is talking about / reading / watching / participating in "the new, cool thing,"  I have to stop and deliberate over whether it's something I actually want to invest myself in.  I don't watch "Dancing with the Stars," "The Bachelor," or "American Idol."  I cringe when I see a commercial or read about the "amazing new diet" trend that is sweeping the nation.  I still haven't read an entire book from the "Twilight" series, and I actually stopped watching "Glee" months ago.  Maybe I'm just stubborn, or maybe holding out on following what's popular subconsciously gives me a sick sense of pride and superiority......whatever the reason, I don't like to go along with stuff just because "everyone else is doing it."

Except for this

Oh, and these

And let's not forget THIS

Ok, maybe I'm not as original an individual as I think - but I AM a little picky about what new fad I'm going to embrace (sorry, skinny jeans, it's never going to happen).  It usually has to come highly recommended by someone very close to me, but even then I can need some prodding.
I resisted The Hunger Games for so long after my younger sister said I HAD to read them, and then they became added to my list of all-time favorite books.  So when my youngest sister told me to watch Once Upon A Time, I started soon after she told me to - and now I'm hooked.

What sealed the deal was the episode from a couple weeks ago, when the story inspiration was Beauty and the Beast.  That is already one of my favorite fairy tales, and probably my #1 favorite Disney Princess movie (I think I'll have to devote a blog post to it one of these days), and the way OUAT handled it was truly for the die hard B&B fans (in my opinion).

There was Belle in her yellow ball gown.

And her blue dress.

But I think what made me holler out loud at the TV was the fact that some unenchanted enchanted objects made it into the episode as well

(Check out the candle and clock in the background to the right, and Mrs. Potts on the tray to the left.)

It's easy to almost miss the Lumiere and Cogsworth cameos, but it was hard to ignore this one:

"It's chipped."

HAHAHA!!!

The Dress Post Part II

I'd wanted to include a picture of my "Titanic"-inspired prom dress yesterday, but since I graduated high school in 2000, digital pictures were not what they are today.  Luckily, my dad is a whiz at scanning, so he sent me one of the pictures.  Thanks, Dad!

Yes, my mom sewed pearls on the bodice!

In all honestly, my junior prom was such a dud - talk about an event that had NOT lived up to the hype.  But I loved my dress (and my hair).  And I've been able to dress up for other occasions that were waaaaaaaaay more fun.

My brother and sister-in-law's wedding reception, 2003
A pink, sparkly dress - doesn't get much more fun!

My "prom" dress for NYSTI's "A Wonderful Life"
(My heel got caught in the skirt a few times during the big Charleston number.)

Bridesmaid for my friend's wedding,
2005

Maybe someday I'll get to wear this dress:

(Well, maybe not, but a girl can dream!)

The Dress Post

On a recent day off, I wasted spent the day watching the first season of "Downton Abbey."  It was a very enjoyable way to spend the day.  Call me a nerd, but one of the things I loved most about it was the costumes - especially the women's dresses.

Seriously, how can you not love these??

I've always LOVED period dresses.  I think if I had ball gowns to wear when I was little, I would've worn them every day - instead I had to settle for a Rainbow Brite skirt and a Dottie Dog skirt / sweatshirt combo.  My mom always brings up how she couldn't get me to wear a pair of pants when I was little - it was skirts and dresses all the time.  I guess that's why my ADOS ("Attention Deficit Oooh Shiny") kicks into high gear whenever I watch something with beautiful costumes.

Love this.

While watching "D.A." I couldn't help but be reminded of "Titanic" - shocker, I know, as they're from the same period.  I love the style of this era.  In fact, I loved it so much, I based my junior prom dress on Rose's dress from the scene in "Titanic" when she's hanging off the back of the ship.  Not to sound conceited, but my dress was the best one there.  (And in the words of Romy and Michelle's High School Reunion, I'm not being conceited, I'm just being honest. ;))

This was the pattern my mom and I used for my prom dress.

I think if I had to do it again, I'd have this dress for my prom. 

 I know that the clothing from periods past had their down sides, but part of me would love to wear them rather than the 80s and 70s inspired crud that keeps popping up.  I'd definitely feel more like a lady wearing something like this:

"Pride & Prejudice" (A&E version)

Or this:

"The Young Victoria"

Oh, well.  Who knows?  Maybe gorgeous dresses will make their way back into popularity someday.  I don't mind waiting.

Today I finished a book

When I was in college, knee-deep in reading assignments, projects, work, the three-mile hike to the grocery store (at least it seemed that long....), I looked forward to the day when I could read for leisure.  I still have to pinch myself when I remember that the time for leisure reading has come.  As it goes in "Meet the Robinsons," "The Future Has Arrived"!  The problem is, now that I have time for leisure reading, I am running out of things to read.

The library has a pretty good selection, but I usually have to wait until the stuff I want becomes available, so I still need books in the meantime.  I do like to reread the books I have (Beauty is one I've read tons of times, and most of Jane Austen's works), but sometimes I want something new, so I look through the books that make up our library at home (i.e. the shelf in hallway).  Some of the books I've grabbed have been duds that I couldn't even finish ("Colorado Weddings" was one of those, but then again, what did I expect from the title, Shakespeare??).  So I was a little unsure if I should bother taking one from the shelf at home, or occupy myself with a wordsearch. 


I decided to take along the copy we have of The Secret Life of Bees, by Sue Monk Kidd.  I remembered my mom had read it and thought it was good, so I thought I'd try it out.  Well, as I started it yesterday, I was hooked.  I have time to read during my breaks at work, and I found this one hard to put down when my breaks ended.  I became so engrossed in the story (a 14-year-old white girl breaks her black housekeeper out of jail during 1964 and they escape to a small town where they live with three black beekeeping sisters, and she discovers the truth about her mother who was killed when she was four - that's a cruddy synopsis, but you'll just have to read it for yourself!), and nearly cried during certain passages, which wasn't the most convenient thing to do since I was surrounded by co-workers while I read.  There were so many beautiful quotes, I wish I had a highlighter pencil for those lines.  Needless to say, I was engrossed by the story.  It helped to pass the time during my work breaks, but I couldn't save it only for work - I read the rest of it today after I got home.  A beautiful, touching story that was not only enjoyable to read, but thought-provoking as well.  I know I'll definitely read it again.

Now I need to find another book to read....

Sisters

I miss this......

and this.....

Why, oh why, do we need to live so far away from each other???

Is it Christmas yet?

Everyone should have a big brother.....

Me and Joe

.....Especially if he's like mine.
Today is my brother's birthday, and since he's pretty much the greatest brother that ever was (and since the selection of e-cards is absolutely pitiful for such an awesome brother), I wanted to dedicate this post to the amazing, wonderful, incredible, talented, funny, loving man that is my big brother.

Me and Joe on the day I was born

Ever since I can remember, my brother has been my best friend (even when I was doing my best impression of "annoying little sister").  He would play with me, imagine with me, watch TV with me....

......dance with me, watch out for me, and he introduced me to some of the coolest stuff on the planet.  Star Wars, He-Man, Voltron, Back to the Future, Indiana Jones, Garfield, Calvin & Hobbes, Legos - what can I say, he just has a knack for finding things that are incredibly cool and fun.  Forget Snoopy - my brother was, and still is, truly Joe Cool.

Seriously, this boy was born cool!

Dorothy and the Karate Kid (eat your heart out, Ralph Macchio!)

He-Man and a Bride (yes, I am wearing a pillowcase)

He has one of the greatest imaginations, and is so amazingly creative.  Not only is he an incredible filmmaker, photographer, and hot glue gunner (remember all of those projects you used to make when we were younger??) but he totally rocks whatever does (including dancing).

The best dancing partner - he's always been a great dipper.

I couldn't ask for a brother more loving or compassionate.  No matter my heartbreak, disappointment or trial, my brother has always been there for me.  Whether it was the pain of losing out at an audition, the difficulties of high school, or the sorrow from a broken relationship, his unconditional love and support always made me feel that I was OK no matter what.  He has shown me such love and acceptance all through the years
and it means more than I can adequately express.

Not only is he an amazing brother, but an amazing husband to his gorgeous wife, too.  And now he's a daddy! There is no question that his little girl has one of the most fun, loving fathers in the world.  I am so proud of him, and so grateful that he's my brother.
He's the best brother ever!

I love you, hermano!

I'm an Auntie!

It seems like only yesterday I got a call from my brother and sister-in-law with some exciting news: I was going to be an aunt!  I was so happy from the news I danced around the house for the rest of the night.  (No joke.  This was pretty much what I looked like:)

This past weekend, little Ruby Joy made a surprise early appearance, officially making me an auntie!  Of course, I'm totally biased, but I think she is the most beautiful little girl in the world.

Seriously, how can you not love this cutie??

Sleeping Ruby

Being a first-time aunt, it got me thinking about the kind of aunt I want to be to my niece.  I started thinking of some "famous aunts," such as -

Auntie Mame












Aunt Polly (from "Pollyanna")









Patty and Selma









 Aunt Em

 In considering the qualities of these aunts, I realized that I have no desire to be a wealthy-socialite-chain-smoking-Kansas-farmer.  And sadly, I can't (yet lol) offer sweet little Ruby the connections of such famous aunts like Rosemary Clooney and Julia Roberts.....

But, I have been blessed with the greatest of examples myself, with my Aunt Linda and Aunt Iz.  They are both such loving, amazing women.  I hope that I can be as loving and fun an aunt to Ruby as they have been to me!

 To my beautiful niece, Ruby, I promise to always take you to Disney World, and I will even wait in line for an hour and a half for you to meet your favorite characters.  I promise to give you lots of hugs and kisses whenever I see you, and to always spoil you.  I promise I will always love you and be proud of you. 
And one thing's for sure, I will always have plenty of this: