Monday means "What the..."

What happens when the wind gets mad.

Really mad.

Seriously, What the...?!

Watch out for the wind!

you LITERALLY can't make this STUFF UP

I have a love/hate relationship with the local news in Utah, specifically the news on KSL.  I love watching it because some of the stories they consider Top News or Breaking News is just insane.  And I hate it for the exact same reason.

The other day, I learned about a man that had been shot in the butt by his dog.  It was the Top Story on the KSL website.  Little did I know, a major windstorm was heading in my direction, and nowhere did I find a front page article about that.  But, that's besides the point.

Anyway, as I read this article, I was reminded of my favorite TV comedy show, 30 Rock.  In the episode 2.6, "Somebody to Love" Jack (Alec Baldwin), who is a staunch Republican, falls for a Democratic congresswoman, C.C. (played by guest star Edie Falco).  After a spontaneous evening together, Jack learns C.C. originally got into politics after her neighbor's dog shot her in the face, requiring her to have many reconstructive surgeries.  He also learns that her "getting shot in the face story" was made into a Lifetime Original Movie called A Dog Took My Face And Gave Me a Better Face to Change the World: The Celeste Cunningham Story.

Hilarious.

If you're not watching 30 Rock, which could be because NBC is playing Whitney (gag) instead, the new season starts on January 12th.  If you're a fan of shows like Arrested Development or New Girl and aren't already a fan of 30 Rock, you'll probably like it.  Give it a chance.  If How I Met Your Mother or Mike & Molly is more your style, I don't think you'd like 30 Rock.  But, you never know.  Give it a try!

After all, their episodes do mirror real life events.

Here's a video clip of Jack watching C.C.'s movie.

my DECEMBER birthday

Today is December 1st which means it's 16 days until my birthday.  Some people may think having a birthday one week (technically 8 days) before Christmas would suck, but I love it.  I've ALWAYS loved having a December birthday, and here are my top 5 reasons why.

5.  It's during the school year

I don't know about you, but on some level I think having a summer birthday and never being able to go to school on your big day (when, oddly, YOU have to bring treats) seems like it would kind of suck.

4.  It's hoodie season

I'll be honest, I don't put make-up on everyday.  I'm not completely vain that I can't stomach the idea of people seeing me looking "less than" in public.  I just don't care.  I probably should, but I just don't.  This all stems from my constant need to be comfortable.  I'll admit, I will put fashion over comfort sometimes, but 9 times out of 10, if I'm not comfortable I change.  Hoodies are the epitome of comfort as far as I'm concerned.  No, they sure aren't flattering but they sure are cozy!

3.  Deals, deals, deals!

Black Friday.  Cyber Monday.  Hello, everywhere you turn there is a sale in December which my gift cards and/or cash presents go a lot further!

2.  There is SO much going on!

December is a busy time of year.  In fact, I have four things I absolutely HAVE to go to on December 10th.  I'm not hte kind of person that needs to be doing something at all times.  I definitely have "home-body-ness" in me, but the fact that I have options rules!

1.  Everyone is happy!

Sure, the holidays tend to bring out the worst in us, but that usually goes away when once we've exited Wal-Mart, or the mall or aren't driving.  I've always loved my birthday in December because people are generally really excited and happy.  

So, there you have it.  The reasons why December birthdays are so fab.

Do you like when your birthday is??

INSTAGRAM wednesday: COMFORT

Nothing can replace the comfort of a blanket.

i'm a FINALIST!

I'm a finalist in two categories on Karen's blog.  Check out her post and vote for your favorite blogs!  Even if your favorite blog isn't mine, still go vote.  :)

my TOP 10 CHRISTMAS songs

10.  "Christmas is Calling"

I have my husband to thank for introducing me to this song.  It's just sweet.

9.  "Christmas Song"

I first heard this song by Dave Matthews back in high school.  A different Christmas song, but beautiful nonetheless.

8.  "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"

I love The Carpenter's version of this song.  If I had to pick a romantic Christmas song, this one would be it!

7.  "O Come, O Come Emmanuel"

Love Mannheim Steamroller's version (as Veni Veni).  Perfection!

6.  "Carol of the Bells"

I grew up listening to Mannheim Steamroller's version of this song.  I also saw them in concert.  Amazing.  I also sang this song in my 9th grade choir.  It's a fun, energetic song!

5.  "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree"

This is such a fun, holiday song.  Every time I hear it, I think of the scene from Home Alone when he is fooling the robbers into thinking there is a house full of people.

4. "O Holy Night"

"Fall on your knees!  Oh, hear the angel's voices! O night divine, the night when Christ was born."  I love the lyrics to this song, and it's powerful melody brings tears to my eyes.  While Josh Groban is a close second, I think Celine Dion takes the cake on the best version of this song, EVER. (I'm expecting a rebuttal, Karen.  Haha!)

3.  "Hallelujah Chorus"

Handle's Messiah is absolutely amazing.  My very smart mother took me to a Messiah Sing-In with the Utah Symphony when I was still quite young.  It had an everlasting impact on me.  I can't not listen to the Hallelujah Chorus without getting chills, and I love this version of the piece.

2.  "Happy X-Mas (War is Over)"

Whether it's the original by John Lennon, or Sarah McLachlan's cover, or this French Canadian dude's version, I absolutely love this song.

1.  "Oh, Come, All Ye Faithful"

I began taking violin lessons when I was just barely six years old.  One violin teacher I had gave her students the opportunity to make a Christmas album in a recording studio.  It required a ton of work, usually 8+ hours in the studio, often recording/playing the same song many different times.  During one such recording session, I found myself recording Oh, Come, All Ye Faithful. As I played each note and listened to the lyrics of the song in my mind, my heart became very full.  My eyes blurred and swelled with tears.  The message and spirit of this song touched my young soul in a way I can't articulate, but the feelings I had have remained with me all these years later, making this beautiful Christmas hymn by far my favorite song of the season.  Surprisingly, I have yet to find a version of this song I absolutely love, but this piano solo rendition is very lovely.

Monday means "What the..."

Nearly three years ago, my daughter was born.  I was so excited to have a little girl.  Both my husband and I had wanted a girl, so when she was born, healthy and perfect, we were thrilled.

A few weeks after her birth, I was going to take her to church for the first time.  But, of course, she needed to be dressed for the occasion.  My husband and I set off to find a cute dress and something for her hair.

We found a dress with relatively no problem, although I was surprised at a lot of stores lack of inventory when it came to dresses for newborns.  Everything was too big, by a lot!

Next, came the task of finding a bow.  I thought this was going to be a breeze.  After all, everywhere I turned I seemed to always see a mother and her daughter with a huge-a bow in her hair.  We're talking, the bow the size of the kid's entire face.

I searched and searched and searched for a freakin' bow but couldn't find anything I liked, or that was big enough.  Where were these mom's finding all the gi-normous bows?  

I felt like such a failure when my daughter made her spiritual debut wearing a size appropriate bow.

When she should've been wearing something like this.

One day at church, I asked a mom that was your quintessential "mom with the daughters that always have huge bows in their hair" about where she got her bows.  She proceeded to tell me she MADE them.  

"What the..."?!

This was not what I wanted to hear.  This was suppose to be easy.  I was suppose to go to a store, buy a huge bow for my daughter and be done with it.  Not make the bow.  That requires craftiness and I'm just not crafty.  Put me in front of a computer and I'll take care of anything, but put me in front of a sewing machine or anything like that I'm completely lost.

Needless to say, my daughter still doesn't have any cute hair bows, but I'm determined to change that.  If you know of any good stores, local or online, that sell awesome, yet reasonably priced hair bows please let me know.