My Top 5 Favorite TV Husbands

Everyone's definition of the perfect husband is different. Maybe some girls dream of a cultured and distinguished gentleman while others might long for a charming hunk. Still, others might be attracted to those wild, bad boy types. Whatever your ideal mate is like, you can always find a plethora of husbands being portrayed on tv. So, I thought I would share with you my top 5 favorite tv husbands and why they made my list. Here they are (in no particular order):



1. Adam Braverman (Peter Krause) from Parenthood

What's not to love about Adam Braverman? He's honest, dependable, hard-working, good-looking, and absolutely 100% devoted to his wife and kids. He's that pillar of strength that everyone in his family turns to when they need help or advice. And, yes, maybe he's a little uptight and high-strung underneath it all, but, I could live with that. No matter how much stress is put on his shoulders, he always comes through.


2. Coach Eric Taylor (Kyle Chandler) from Friday Night Lights

Eric Taylor is a strong and stand-up guy. He's passionate about three things - his wife, his daughters, and the boys that he coaches in high-school football. And, if anybody messes with any of those three things, he's going to staunchly defend them no matter what. He's got a little bit of a temper - not enough to do any harm - but just enough to show his fierce determination and commitment to his beliefs. He also happens to have a great smile and really nice eyes!


3. Marshall Eriksen (Jason Segel) from How I Met Your Mother

Marshall is a real sweetheart! He's totally, head over heels in love with his girl, Lily. He is smart, kind, sensitive, and loyal. Family is very important to him and he considers his dad one of his best friends. He reminds me of a big ol' cute and cuddly teddy bear. Gotta love Marshall as a husband!


4. Carlos Solis (Ricardo Antonio Chavira) from Desperate Housewives

Oooh! Carlos is tall, dark, and handsome (well, I don't know if he's especially tall, but he is definitely dark and handsome). He makes a good living (I mean, just look at their house, cars, and all of Gaby's designer clothes and jewelry). And, best of all, he seems to be a very patient man. He puts up with Gaby's spoiled, conniving ways and tries to keep her on the straight and narrow path.


5. Owen Hunt (Kevin McKidd) from Grey's Anatomy

His steely blue eyes and red hair are reason enough for Owen Hunt to make my favorite tv husbands list. But, besides his good looks, Owen is smart and sensitive, a real take-charge kind of guy. He fell for Christana Yang almost at first sight and they have been through a lot together. His strength and character make him a great mate!


When it comes to tv husbands (or wives), who's your favorite?

Movie Trailer Tuesday - Polish Wedding

Here's an older movie that I've seen several times over the years. I really like it - it's funny and sweet and has an eccentric cast of characters. Claire Danes stars as Hala, a young girl from a Polish-American family. When she becomes pregnant by the young neighborhood cop she's secretly been seeing, her outspoken mother and brothers do nothing short of arranging a shotgun marriage. Meanwhile, Hala's mother has been doing some sneaking around of her own, having an affair behind her husband's back. Hala's father pretends to turn a blind eye to the affair and instead sulks and mopes about, constantly arguing with his wife. Also stars Lena Olin and Gabriel Byrne.

Rated PG-13

Giveaway Winner

The randomly selected winner of the Big G Cereal coupon and book ("The Lean Belly Prescription") has been selected and notified. Congratulations to:

Kimberly
I tweeted today 3/14 http://twitter.com/Aerated/status/47277267054903296
March 14, 2011 8:47 AM

Movie Trailer Tuesday - The Greatest

After losing their oldest son, Bennet, in a car accident, Allen and Grace are surprised when his troubled girlfriend shows up on their doorstep. She is three months pregnant with their grandchild and she has nowhere to go. They agree to take her in, but her presence proves difficult, especially for Grace. As they get to know one another, they realize they must all figure out a way to come to terms with Bennett's death. Can they make room for this new person and put their family back together?

If you like a good Lifetime-tv-tearjerker movie than you should watch this movie. It's a moving story with great performances from Susan Sarandon, Pierce Brosnan, and Carey Mulligan. Get some tissues, because even the movie trailer will probably make you cry!

Rated R for language, some sexual content and drug use

(Book Review and GIVEAWAY) Pretty Neat - the buttoned-up way to get organized & let go of perfection

I'm sure, like me, many of you could use a little help in the organizational department. We all have those problem areas of our home (or life) that we just can't seem to keep in perfect order. I'm pretty good at keeping things neat and picked up in my overall household. You won't find too much clutter lying around out in the open. But, where I do seem to struggle are those "behind closed doors" area -- my closets, junk drawers, and my kitchen pantry. While I know that practically nobody will ever actually see these areas, it's still always in the back of my mind that I need to do better and keep these areas more tidy.

Here's a photo of my kitchen pantry.

I guess it could look alot worse, but, it's a constant source of stress for me because things are always piling up on the floor. Also, the shelves are fairly deep so it's difficult to reach items that are stored near the back. I used to be a real stickler about my pantry (yes, I was one of those wackos that actually alphabetized my canned goods). Well, that all changed once I started having kids and our lives became a lot more busy. Now, I do try to group items by type of food, but even that doesn't always happen. I've decided it's time to empty out the pantry entirely and start from scratch. Some reorganization and deluttering are in order. Wish me luck and I'll be sure and post some photos when I'm done.

BOOK REVIEW

Speaking of organization, I was happy to recently have the opportunity to review a new book on just this topic. It's called Pretty Neat, the buttoned-up way to get organized & let go of perfection. It's authored by Alicia Rockmore and Sarah Welch, who are the creators of buttoned up organizational products. Here's a bit about the book from their website:

"Pretty Neat is a handbook that embraces the chaotic reality that lies beneath org porn’s glossy veneer, offering pithy anecdotes and candid advice from experts and real women alike on tackling organizational inertia. Funny, irreverent, entertaining, and helpful, the book covers all facets of clutter-control, from tried-and-true tips for conquering to-do lists and wrangling family schedules to ideas on excavating inboxes, eliminating excuses, and delegating housework. Most importantly, Pretty Neat insists that women need to stop holding themselves to impossibly high standards, and focus instead on defining their own, realistic organizational goals."

First of all, I love how they coined the term "org porn" - which they use to refer to "that glossy, airbrushed fantasy world where everythign is pristine, serene, and perfectly in order."  Sure, we all want org porn, but in reality, it's just not possible. And, that's what's great about this book. They tell you that it's okay to let go of these unrealistic ideas of everything being perfect. Instead, they help you find ways to make your own goals that work for you. I enjoyed the chapter on delegating, which is something I REALLY need to work on. I've alway been such a control freak that I usually end up trying to do everything myself for fear that it won't be done correctly. There's even a section called Control Freaks - it could have been written just for me. There are also chapters on To-Do Lists, Family Scedules, Clutter at Home, Toy Tsunamis, Taming Your Inbox, and more. I found so many valuable tips and ideas and the book has really motivated me to work on those areas in my life that need organization (but not be so stressed out while I'm doing it).

GIVEAWAY
One of my lucky readers will win a copy of this book, Pretty Neat.

*Mandatory Entry* - leave a comment on this post telling me the area of your home or life that has become the biggest source of organizational stress.

*Extra Entries* - you may do any or each of the following (leave separate comment for each):
1. Follow my blog via GFC (see sidebar)
2. Subscribe to my blog via email (see sidebar)
3. Follow @alas3lads on twitter (must leave your twitter name to verify)

Entries will be accepted until 10:00 PM EST on March 19, 2011. At that time a random winner will be chosen and notified. Please make sure you provide valid contact information.

Disclaimer:
The authors of Pretty Neat, through Global Influence, provided me with this book for review. They are also providing another copy of the book for giveaway to one of my blog readers. In exchange for sharing my review and hosting the giveaway, I am entered in a gift card drawing. All opinions expressed are my own.

 

Help Maintain Your Weight with Big G Cereals with Whole Grains (PLUS GIVEAWAY)

Did you know that according to the Report of the 2010 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, 95% of Americans do not get enough whole grain. In fact, the average person gets a little more than half a serving of whole grain each day. That's significantly less than the three servings recommended daily (at least 48 grams of whole grains are recommended daily).

Every Big G cereal contains at least 8 grams of whole grain per serving, with more than 20 Big G cereals delivering 16 grams or more. A diet high in whole grain can help you to maintain a healthier weight. It has also been found to help with diabetes and may help reduce the risk of heart disease and certain cancers.

Frequent cereal eaters tend to have healthier body weights (and that includes people who choose sweetened cereals). Cereal eaters consume less fat, less cholesterol, and more fiber than non-cereal eaters. Cereal consumption as part of an overall healthy lifestyle may play a role in maintaining a healthy body mass index.

Weight management is more than just watching calories - it's also important to ensure you're getting enough of the good stuff. Big G cereals are made with whole grain and are nutrient-dense to help you start your day off right with brands you love, including Cheerios, Honey Nut Cheerios, Lucky Charms, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Fiber One, and Total. Just look for the white check on the front of the cereal box!

Visit http://www.wholegrainnation.com/ for more tips, additional information about the benefits of whole grain and how Big G cereals can be a convenient and tasty way to help you manage your weight by incorportating whole grain into your day.

Giveaway

General Mills, through MyBlogSpark, has generously offered a giveaway for one of my readers. The prize pack consists of a VIP coupon for one Big G cereal and a copy of "The Belly Fat Prescription," by Dr. Travis Stork (MD and host of The Doctors).

MANDATORY ENTRY: To enter the giveaway, simply leave a comment on this post telling me your favorite Big G cereal.

Extra Entries: You may earn extra entries for any of the following (leave seperate comment for each):
* Follow by blog via GFC (see sidebar)

* Subscribe to my blog via email (see sidebar)

* Follow @alas3lads on twitter (must leave your twitter name to verify)

* Tweet following message 1x daily -

Posted @alas3lads: Prize pack #giveaway - Help maintain weight w/whole grain & Big G Cereal; http://tinyurl.com/47mn54b #myblogspark

U.S. entries only. Entries for this giveaway will be accepted until 10:00 PM March 15, 2011. At that time, a random winner will be selected and notified. Please make sure you provide valid contact information.


Disclaimer:
General Mills, through MyBlogSpark, provided me with information used in this post. They provided me with a prize pack consisting of a coupon for a Big G cereal and a copy of  the book "The Belly Fat Prescription." They are also providing this same prize pack to one of my blog readers.

Movie Trailer Tuesday - Like Dandelion Dust

Jack and Molly Campbell are living a great life - happy marriage, beautiful home and boat by the beach, and a beloved adopted son, Joey. When they suddenly learn that Joey's biological father has been released from prison and that he and Joey's biological mom intend to regain custody of Joey, their happy world begins to fall apart. When the courts rule in favor of the biological parents, the Campbell's race to come up with a plan to save their family. As they become more and more desperate, they realize they will do just about anything to keep Joey. Meanwhile, Rip and Wendy, the biological parents, are also desperate to have Joey back in their life. It's an emotional story where someone will have to lose.

Starring Cole Hauser, Kate Levering, Barry Pepper, and Mira Sorvino. Barry Pepper is amazing as Rip, the alcoholic ex-con prone to fits of anger and domestic violence. Definitely a tear-jerker movie.

Rated PG-13 for mature thematic material including domestic violence and alcohol abuse

Movie Trailer Tuesday - Winter's Bone

From Netflix:

In director Debra Granik's unflinching noir drama set deep in the Ozarks, resilient teen Ree Dolly (Jennifer Lawrence) goes on the trail of her missing, drug-dealing father when his absence jeopardizes the family's safety. Her deadbeat dad has a key court date pending, and Ree is determined that he show up -- despite the objections of the insular Dolly clan. The film earned Oscar and Independent Spirit Award nods for Best Picture and for Lawrence.

I was eager to watch this film because the actress, Jennifer Lawrence, is a local hometown girl and I heard so many rave reviews about her performance. She, and the film, did not disappoint. The subject matter is dark and disturbing. It gives you a frightening look into the violent world of back-wood drug dealers. I thought Jennifer Lawrence was brilliant and look forward to seeing more of her in the future. John Hawkes was also excellent in his role as Teardrop (Ree's very scary uncle).

Have you seen it yet?

Rated R for drug material, language, and violent content