Archives for February 2011

Super (Linky) Sunday

So we’re really not big on the NFL in our house. I think we love college football so much that it’s hard to make room in our hearts for professional football. Plus, my daddy was never much of a pro sports fan, so when I was growing up our family’s Sunday afternoons were reserved for stuff like reading and napping. The closest pro team to my hometown was in New Orleans, and none of us really enjoyed sitting in front of the TV and watching the Saints lose.

All that to say: the Super Bowl is usually the only pro game I watch all year. Most of the time I don’t even know who’s playing until the week before the game, and I typically decide who I’m going to cheer for based on whether any former Mississippi State players happen to be playing for one of the teams. Tonight, for instance, former MSU tight end Donald Lee was playing for Green Bay, so, you know, GO PACKERS.

See? It’s all very logical and scientific.

In addition to the Super Bowl goings-on, we’ve had a perfectly lovely Sunday (church, fun lunch with friends, book time with the little man, plenty-o-laughter), and I’ve tried to soak up the day because there’s a crazy-ish week ahead. I’ve got deadlines-a-plenty breathing down my neck, and in the interest of not making life miserable for the people who have to live with me, I’m going to try to tackle as much as I can at the beginning of this week so that I won’t be a walking basket of stress by week’s end.

This is the exact opposite of any productivity “strategy” I employed in college, by the way.

Anyway, I just wanted to share a few links with y’all, and then I’m going to get as much rest as I can before I have to wake up at dark-thirty tomorrow. THE FUN NEVER STOPS!

Lora Lynn’s post about Uganda is encouraging and heartbreaking and beautiful. LL and her husband flew to Uganda last week so that they could finalize the adoption of the newest member of their family. They have had some complications with the paperwork, and LL’s outlook in the midst of her (hopefully very short-term) disappointment makes her post all the more touching. You should read it.

– Kelli at Living in Grace finally has a living kidney donor – big, BIG news! After following her journey (I always feel like someone on “The Bachelor” when I use that word) for the last four years, I just couldn’t be happier for her and her family.

– I know I’ve mentioned this before, but Ree’s beef stew with mushrooms is so very, very tasty. I actually make it with beef stock instead of red wine (I believe my fundamental inability to appreciate red wine has been well-documented), and it’s just delicious. I also add lots of baby carrots. Because I’m CRAZY like that.

– Loved this post from Mary at Owlhaven about finding your own way as a mama. So good.

– I thought Chrysler’s Super Bowl commercial was really great. Unexpectedly poetic and beautifully shot.

– Finally, I am slightly obsessed with Drew & Ellie Holcombe’s new music video.

And when I say “slightly,” I mean I have watched it about 42 times in the last 2 days.

Hope y’all have a great Monday!

They Don’t Need No Doctor

So more than anything else, I really need to address this little treasure right from the get-go.

Listen. When he started singing, I had to STAND UP. Blew me away. Granted, I’m sort of a sucker for that whole bluesy, jazzy vibe thing (which is in fact the proper musical designation just in case you were wondering), but OH MY MERCY. Can’t wait to see what’s in store for young Casey Abrams.

Coincidentally, Casey Abrams’ audition song was also one of Casey James’ Hollywood Week songs last year, but unless Casey Abrams has acquired some extensions since his audition, I don’t expect for him to be rockin’ a ponytail anytime soon.

However, given the fact that I’m now feeling a little nostalgic about Casey James’ ponytail, I think it might be a good thing for us to pause for a moment and remember it. If you feel so led, of course.

There. I believe we’ve come full circle. I feel a sense of AI completeness.

And no kidding: I still can’t get over how much I’m enjoying the JLo and the Steven Tyler. What I enjoy most about them is that they so obviously LOVE MUSIC, and that enthusiasm changes everything about the show. Since they’re not as focused on the music business angle (though I’m sure there’s a well-trained team of people behind-the-scenes who are very much focused on the music business angle), they seem to really enjoy the contestants. And it’s delightful.

I also appreciate that in the six shows we’ve seen so far – 12 days’ worth of auditions – Jenny from the Block has sported a different hairstyle every single time (including, on tonight’s show, sort of a Rhoda-esque scarf ‘do). That’s inspiring, people. My hair can only dream of such kicky versatility.

Hope y’all have a great weekend!

If You’ve Ever Known…

…a little boy or a little girl who loves Star Wars (or any sort of superhero, for that matter), you’ll totally understand why this commercial is forty-two kinds of adorable. My husband actually told me about it the second – the SECOND – he walked in the door tonight.

Isn’t that the best?