Movie Trailer Tuesday - The Joneses

When the Joneses move into the neighborhood, everyone is immediately impressed. They are the perfect family with the perfect home, fancy clothes, cars, gadgets, and more. Soon, everyone is doing their best to keep up with the Joneses and their rich lifestyle. Little do they know that the Joneses aren't really what they seem...

The premise of this movie seemed a little far-fetched, but I found it entertaining, nonetheless. You get to see firsthand, that a rich, materialistic lifestyle is sometimes not all it's cracked up to be. Funny and sad, in a dark, satirical way.

Rated R for language, some sexual content, teen drinking and drug use.

Game of Thrones Season 2 - Preview Trailer

Game of Thrones returns to HBO on April 1 at 9:00 pm. I loved season 1 and just got goosebumps watching the preview trailer for the upcoming season! Who else is a fan?

Season 2: Preview - You Win or You Die

HBO is currently showing reruns of Game of Thrones Season 1. Check your local listings for times. (This show is definitely adults-only)

Aloha Friday - This Just In

Welcome to this week’s edition of Aloha Friday, hosted by Kailani over at An Island Life. In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day to take it easy and look forward to the weekend. So, on Fridays we can take it easy on blog posting, too.

I’ll ask a simple question for you to answer - nothing that requires a lengthy response. If you’d like to participate, visit An Island Life where you can link up with your own question and also visit the other participants! It’s a great way to make new bloggy friends!


How closely do you follow the news?  From what source do you get most of your news - tv, radio, newspaper, internet, other?


I keep up with the news very closely, especially the national news. I get news from the tv, radio, and internet...I don't really read the newspaper that much anymore (except for our little bitty hometown paper).

Ballet Flats - A Timeless Trend

When it comes to shoes, ballet flats are something that always seem to be in style. You can find them in all kinds of colors - from bright and funky to neutral and classic. They can be dressy or casual. The price ranges can run the gamut from very affordable to very expensive, depending on the brand. And, they really do go with just about anything.

Here are a few styles that I'm loving for spring:

Lands' End Lila Unconstructed Piped Ballet Shoes

Boden Pony Ballerina

Old Navy Polka-Dot Canvas

JCPenney Nine & Co. Neon Colorblock

Sam Edelman Beatrix Ballet Flats

Puma Zandy Mesh

Jessica Simpson Madisen Two Tone

Are you a fan of ballet flats?



The Curse of the Household Appliances

I don't know if we are jinxed or what, but when it comes to household appliances, we have the worst luck. We built our home about eight years ago, buying all new appliances at that time. We have already had to replace our microwave (GE) and repair our oven (GE). And, now, at this very moment, our refrigerator, dishwasher, dryer, and kitchen faucet are all having major issues. It's so frustrating!

The refrigerator (GE): If we keep the ice-maker turned on, all of the ice in the ice bin will randomly melt, leaking everywhere. The top half of the freezer will not freeze anything. However, the bottom half of the refrigerator freezes everything. The other day, I opened the fridge to get out a bottle of V8 juice, I wanted to add some to the pot of chili I was making. The entire bottle of juice was frozen solid. Hard as a brick. Meanwhile, I've had a couple ice trays sitting on the top shelf of the freezer for days and they are still water - they will not freeze.

The dishwasher (GE): If I place any items on the top shelf of the dishwasher they will not get clean. Instead, they are all filled with a gritty residue. And, one of the screws that secures the dishwasher into the cabinet has come out so if I pull either of the racks out too far, the dishwasher practically falls out. (I realize this is an installation issue and not actually related to the appliance itself but still...frustrating!)

The dryer (Whirlpool): Our dryer is actually less than two years old. Sunday, as I was going about my daily 200 loads of laundry, I noticed that it wasn't getting the job done. There was air, but there was no heat. Hubs is thinking it's the heating element, which is something he can probably fix fairly easily. I guess the fact that it's used so much could be the culprit. There are days when I literally do laundry from 7 a.m. till bedtime. We are a family of six and laundry is a never-ending chore.

The kitchen faucet (Moen): Leaks around the faucet itself and under the sink; water sputters and putters out of the faucet for a few minutes before finally becoming a steady stream.

Are we cursed or what? I guess the saying is true...they just don't make 'em like they used to. I'm dreading the bill for repairing and/or replacing all of these items. And, I don't usually like to name-bash, but I can tell you that I will never purchase a GE appliance again!

What about you? Have you had any major appliance problems? What brand of appliances do you own?

Official Movie Trailer for Finding Nemo 3D from Disney-Pixar

Academy Award®-winning Best Animated Feature “Finding Nemo” returns to the big screen for the first time ever in thrilling Disney Digital 3D™. In this stunning underwater adventure, with memorable characters, humor and heartfelt emotion, “Finding Nemo” follows the comedic and momentous journey of an overly protective clownfish named Marlin (voice by Albert Brooks) and his son Nemo (voice by Alexander Gould)––who become separated in the Great Barrier Reef when Nemo is unexpectedly taken far from his ocean home and dumped into a fish tank in a dentist’s office. Buoyed by the companionship of Dory (voice by Ellen DeGeneres), a friendly-but-forgetful Pacific regal blue tang, Marlin embarks on a dangerous trek and finds himself the unlikely hero of an epic effort to rescue his son––who hatches a few daring plans of his own to return safely home.

FINDING NEMO returns to theatres for the first time in 3D September 14th, 2012!




Movie trailer provided by Disney

Movie Trailer Tuesday - You Again

Coming home for her brother's wedding, Marni is shocked to discover that her future sister-in-law is the mean girl from high school - the girl who made Marni's life miserable. But, no one else seems to know of the girl's notorious past, so Marni sets out to expose her and stop the wedding.

This movie is so funny! I watched it with my teenage daughter and we were both laughing throughout. Such a great cast - Kristin Bell, Jamie Lee Curtis, Sigourney Weaver, Victor Garber, and Betty White just to name a few. If you want a light-hearted, romantic comedy then this is for you. Be sure and stick around through the ending credits because there's a fun Hall and Oates performance.

Rated PG for brief mild language and rude behavior

Teens and Seat Belts

Yesterday, in one of our neighboring communities, there was a car accident which killed two teenage girls and seriously injured a third. I don't know the people involved, but, as a mom of teens myself, hearing about this just broke my heart. Knowing that the lives of these young girls were tragically cut short is so sad. I cannot even imagine the pain their families and friends are in right now and my prayers go out to them. The news reported that the girls were traveling in a pickup truck when the driver somehow lost control, causing the vehicle to flip. It was also reported that none of the girls were wearing seat belts.

I don't know if wearing a seat belt would have changed the outcome of this accident. Maybe these girls normally wore seat belts, maybe they didn't. I don't know. It scares me to think that some teens choose not to buckle up. I've seen it in my own 18 year old son. There have been occasions that I have caught him not using his seat belt. He gives me lines and excuses like, "I wasn't going on the highway" or "I was only driving up the street." This makes me furious! I have made it clear that this is absolutely something I expect him to do every single time he gets in an automobile. If he has the privilege to drive, buckling up is a non-negotiable rule that his dad and I demand of him. But, he's almost 19 years old. I can't follow him everywhere he goes, hold his hand and remind him to fasten his seat belt. I can only hope that all of our discussions on this subject have seeped into his brain and will make him do the responsible thing on his own. I can continue these discussions, making sure he is aware of consequences of not wearing seat belts, such as the terrible accident that happened to those girls yesterday. I can set a good example by wearing a seat belt each time I'm in a car. I can pray that my child makes good decisions and safe choices. From there, it's up to him.

Do you always wear a seat belt? If you have teens, has this been an issue? What kind of things do you do to ensure that your teen remembers to buckle up?

Book - Enclave by Ann Aguirre

In this futuristic, dystopian young adult novel, we meet Deuce. She lives in an underground compound called an enclave. In Deuce's world, life is all about survival. The dark tunnels and paths just beyond the compound are full of dangerous zombie-like creatures called "freaks" who feed on human flesh. And, life above ground, or topside, is even worse. Life expectancy is very short. From an early age you are trained to join one of the three groups of the enclave - the builders, the breeders, or the hunters. If you are lucky enough to make it to age 15, you are then given a name and assigned to your group.

Deuce has spent her entire life training to become a huntress. The hunters are the ones who venture out to find and bring back food for the group. Deuce is strong, tough, and eager to prove herself as a capable huntress. She is paired with veteran hunter, Fade. He is not an original member of the enclave and seems to have a rebellious, defiant streak within him.

As Deuce and Fade begin going out on their hunting missions, they stumble upon some information about the freaks. Once considered mindless and unthinking, the freaks are now showing increased mental abilities. They seem to be able to plan and strategize their attacks. When this news is brought back to the enclave elders, no one wants to pay heed to the information. Can Deuce and Fade convince the elders that extra precautions need to be taken to keep their enclave safe? And, when Deuce begins to see another side of Fade, a tender, caring side, she begins to question the real motives of the elders and the goings-on of the enclave.

My thoughts:
I am such a big fan of young adult dystopian and this book did not disappoint. From the first pages, I was completely drawn into Deuce's world. The vivid descriptions of her life underground and the dangerous world she lived in really made the story come to life. The way that people in the enclave are raised has made Deuce look at life in a matter-of-fact, hardened manner. It's only after getting to know Fade that Deuce begins to realize there might be a softer side of herself.

The action scenes took place right away, leaving me hanging on the edge of my seat. I felt tense and nervous as Deuce and Fade went out to hunt and face the freaks. And, I totally fell for Fade. He was described as a brooding loner, an outsider. But, as more and more of his story was revealed I realized what a wonderful partner he is to Deuce.

I loved every twist and turn of this story (so much that I couldn't put the book down and read it all in one day). It's a familiar theme but not predictable at all. The characters are interesting and diverse; some that I really loved and some that I really despised. I thought the ending played out well and I am already eagerly awaiting the next book in the series (which I believe is due out this fall).

Movie Trailer Tuesday - Ondine

Colin Farrell plays Syracuse, a fisherman living in a small Irish village. He is a recovering alcoholic who helps to care for his little girl, Annie. Wheelchair-bound Annie has kidney disease and requires dialysis. One day as Syracuse is out on his boat hoping to haul in a big catch, he is surprised to instead find a young woman tangled in his fishing net. She is beautiful and mysterious and seems to bring good luck to Syracuse. Annie is immediately smitten with the young woman as well, convinced that she is a selkie, a mythological creature similar to a mermaid. As Syracuse grows closer to the woman, he becomes more and more afraid of finding out who she really is and what's going to happen.

This is a lovely, mythical story -- a real modern fairly tale, complete with romance, darkness, and humor. Colin Farrell is brilliant, as usual. Seriously, he always does a great job and I could watch him in anything. One small thing to mention is that I sometimes found it difficult to understand what they were saying due to the heavy Irish dialect. But, all in all, a great movie!

Rated PG-13 for some violence, sensuality and brief strong language.

Deadly Disclosures by Julie Cave - Special Deal When Purchased January 15-31

Image via www.juliecave.com

Meet Dinah Harris, the sarcastic and brilliant heroine of the Dinah Harris mystery trilogy, for only .99 cents this month! From January 15th - 31st, you can get your copy of Deadly Disclosures at a promotional rate of .99 cents! This includes digital copies available for the Kindle, Nook, and iPad. To get your copy at this special price visit any of these fine retailers:

Amazon (Kindle)

Barnes & Noble (Nook)

http://www.apple.com/ipad/built-in-apps/ibooks.html iBookstore (iPad)

Answers in Genesis Bookstore (any of the above!)

Remember, this promotion will last January 15-31 only, so make sure to act fast!


Deadly Disclosures is the first book in a trilogy by author Julie Cave. It's a Christian fiction murder mystery that revolves around Washington D.C. FBI agent, Dinah Harris. Dinah was once a brilliant investigator at the top of her game in the Bureau. But after some very unfortunate circumstances lead to her fall from grace, she is now resigned to an instructor's position - teaching the new incoming agents.

When a high profile case with possible political implications comes up, Dinah is recruited to be part of the investigative team. But Dinah is secretly battling the demons of depression and alcoholism. Can she hold it together and handle the pressure of this case?

Dinah and her partner race to discover who would want to kidnap and murder Thomas Whitfield, the prominent Secretary of the Smithsonian. Their investigation leads them into a world of powerful people. A world where academia, science, atheism, and Christian faith play huge roles. Is it possible that Whitfield's faith somehow played a role in his death? The theme of evolution versus creation is relevant to this story.

My Thoughts:
This is not my usual genre of book to read. However, I was immediately drawn to the story from page one. Dinah is such a troubled character, struggling just to get through each day. I found myself rooting for her to get it together and pull herself out of the dark hole she was in. I like how the author didn't immediately reveal all of the circumstances that led to Dinah's breakdown. Bits and pieces of her story are divulged, little by little, which keep you guessing as to what actually happened to her. That really kept me on my toes and made me feel like I was doing some detective work of my own. There was plenty of suspense and plot twists which also kept the story interesting. It was an easy story to follow, yet not predictable.

I thoroughly enjoyed Deadly Disclosures (a little to my surprise since I normally do not read murder mysteries or Christian fiction). I'm looking forward to reading the second and third books in this series - The Shadowed Mind and Pieces Of Light. Dinah is a gritty, tough character that makes for a very complex heroine. I can't wait to see what's in store for her next!

If you are interested in reading Deadly Disclosures, don't forget to use the above links for the special January pricing. To learn more about the author and her work, visit Julie Cave's website.


I received free copies of the Dinah Harris Mystery trilogy books from the author to facilitate this review. All opinions stated here are 100% my own.



Aloha Friday - Healthy Snacks

Welcome to this week’s edition of Aloha Friday, hosted by Kailani over at An Island Life. In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day to take it easy and look forward to the weekend. So, on Fridays we can take it easy on blog posting, too.

I’ll ask a simple question for you to answer - nothing that requires a lengthy response. If you’d like to participate, visit An Island Life where you can link up with your own question and also visit the other participants! It’s a great way to make new bloggy friends!

Tell me one of your favorite healthy snacks...

My Favorite Android App - WordzUp!

I don't really play many games on my android smart phone other than a few rounds of Words With Friends every now and then. But, I was recently browsing through the android market and came across a word game that looked like it would be fun. It's called WordzUp! and it's by Anthrological. I downloaded the free game onto my HTC EVO phone and gave it a try.

I am now totally addicted.

In this game, you get a grid of letters (you can choose different grid sizes). You then use your fingers to trace over letters to spell words. The game displays how many words are possible to make from that grid and you are racing against the clock to see how many you can find before time runs out. Words must be at least 3 letters in length and you have the ability to rotate the grid if you're stuck - it's still the same letters, you're just looking at them from a different perspective. At the end of the game you can see all of the words that could be made from that grid.

As I said, I'm totally addicted. It's quite challenging and a good mental workout for your brain. It's a quick game that you can pick up and play anytime. I find myself playing it over and over, telling myself, "just one more time."

If you are an android user, look for WordzUp! in the market and see what you think. You might just become addicted, too!

This is not a compensated/sponsored post. I'm simply sharing a cool android game that I enjoy playing on my smart phone. As always, opinions expressed are my own.

Movie Trailer Tuesday - River Queen

It's the 1850's. Sarah lives with her father, an Irish doctor, in a remote area of New Zealand. Also inhabiting this area, are the people of the Maori tribe. The Maori people do not welcome the white settlers and Sarah is supposed to keep her distance. But, she soon meets and falls in love with a young Maori man. Sadly, he dies from the "coughing sickness" and leaves Sarah with child. Sarah gives birth to a baby boy and loves him fiercely. Meanwhile, more and more British and Irish soldiers are arriving with orders to clear the native Maori off the land.

Several years later, Sarah's boy is kidnapped by his Maori grandfather. They disappear deep into the countryside. Although Sarah searches relentlessly, years go by and she is unable to locate her son. Along the way, she finds support and friendship from an Irish soldier named Doyle. She finally meets a Maori warrior who has been working with the British and discovers that he may be the key to finding her son.

The scenery is incredible and the story is intense. The kidnapping scene literally gave me goosebumps and had me in tears. The music was sometimes a bit grandiose but overall I loved the story. It's difficult to watch Sarah as she is torn between the Maori world and that of her own people. And, the choices she must make in regard to her son are heart-wrenching.

Rated R for violence, nudity, and sexual content.

Purex Crystals and Jockey Sports Bra - A Perfect Pair (with Coupon and Giveaway)

~This giveaway is now closed~

It's a new year, and like so many others, I have resolved to exercise more. I'm trying to hit the treadmill or take a walk through my neighborhood at least four days per week. Sticking to this resolution is not easy for me. I'm always looking for things that can motivate me or make working out feel a little less like a chore.

One thing that helps me feel cool and comfortable during workouts is the 2012 Jockey Tech Terry Performance sports bra.

Check out some of it's performance features:

• Moisture-wicking sports bra helps keep you cool & dry
• Convenient key pocket so you can take your workouts anywhere
• Reflective logo at the back
• Breathable mesh panels
• Soft bottom band for comfortable support   
• Machine wash & dry

The Jockey sports bra is 93% Polyester, 7% Spandex (Lining is 94% Polyester, 6% Spandex). Normally, performance sportswear is not compatible with fabric softener. This is because the oil content of most fabric softeners prevents the wicking process. But, now, thanks to Purex Crystals fabric softener, you can safely and effectively freshen your athletic wear (and most of your other clothing, as well).

Purex Crystals are 92% natural crystals that you put in at the beginning of your wash cycle. This allows the crystals to spend more time infusing your laundry with long-lasting freshness. And, as mentioned above, it does not contain oil so it is safe for all of your laundry.

So, Purex Crystals and Jockey are the perfect pair to help me along in my goal to exercise more in the new year. Something as simple as feeling fresh and dry is actually a big motivator for me. I tried out the Tropical Splash variety of Purex Crystals. It has a nice, crisp scent that is not too heavy or perfumey. And, while the scent is definitely not overwhelming, I'm impressed with it's staying power. It really lasts!

Coupon
Would you like to purchase your own Jockey Tech Terry Performance sports bra?  Then click over and sign up for a 20% off Jockey coupon code, courtesy of Purex Crystals.


Giveaway
Would you like a chance to win a free bottle of Purex Crystals Tropical Splash Softener and a Jockey Tech Terry Performance Sports Bra?  If so, simply leave a comment on this post telling me a laundry or fitness tip.

Optional entries (leave a separate comment for each):
*Subscribe to my blog via email (see sidebar)
*Follow alas3lads on Twitter
*Follow Purex on Twitter
*Tweet about this post using the Retweet button (leave link to your tweet)

Contest will end on 1-17-12 at 10:00 pm EST. Open to U.S. residents only. Please make sure to provide valid contact information so that I can notify you if you win. Randomly selected winner must respond to me within 48 hours of notification and provide mailing address and bra size.

Jockey and Purex provided free samples of their products so that I could review them. They are also providing the giveaway items. As always, all opinions expressed here are my own.

Rafflecopter Is Having A Giveaway

I'm sure many of you are at least somewhat familiar with Rafflecopter. It's a neat little gizmo that helps you run giveaways on your blog. I have entered many giveaways around the blogosphere that used Rafflecopter and, for the most part, it did seem to make the entering process pretty easy.

To celebrate the new year, Rafflecopter is giving away a 16GB Apple iPad2 and several Kindle Fires. The giveaway starts Monday 1/9 at 12:01 a.m. and will close February 9th at 12:01 a.m. EST. This giveaway is open to US and Canadian residents. To enter, simply use the Rafflecopter widget below. It would be great if you could list me, Kari at Alas 3 Lads, as the person who referred you to the contest. If I happen to refer the winner, I can also win a Kindle Fire for myself. Yay! There are other entry options as well. Good luck!

If you are having trouble viewing the Rafflecopter widget, you may need to click on "Read more"...

Open Your Gifts

On Christmas Day, we were at my brother-in-law's home to celebrate with my husband's side of the family. There were 17 of us and when it came time to open gifts, things were a little chaotic with paper and ribbons and boxes flying everywhere. My daughter (age 15) and her cousin (our neice is 12) opened their gifts from Mamaw and Papaw at the same time and discovered that they both received the same thing -- Honeywell Air Purifiers. Okay, you can imagine the reaction of two teen/preteen girls upon learning that they have just received air purifiers for Christmas. They weren't quite sure what to say and had confused looks on their faces. Nothing against air purifiers, but it's not something most teenage girls have on their wish list.

Now, my mother-in-law has been known to give some "different" gifts and be a little eccentric (she gave my husband a Ped-Egg, by the way). So, the girls merely gave her a hug and said their thank-yous.

Later that day, we packed up our gifts and goodies and headed home. We soon realized that we accidentally left behind my daughter's air purifier. I felt bad because I didn't want anyone to think we purposely left it behind and made a mental note to try to get back over there soon and pick it up.

Flash forward to Tuesday, January 3rd. We still hadn't made it over to get the air purifier. I received a call from my father-in-law a.k.a. Papaw. He told me that he enjoyed watching the girls open their air purifiers but he had a little secret...you see, the girls never actually opened the box that the air purifiers were in, so they never realized that their gifts were not really air purifiers! He didn't tell me what was really inside the box, only that I needed to get over to my brother-in-law's house so my daughter could check it out again.

When we picked up the gift and opened the box, we discovered something very special indeed. My mother-in-law was passing down several items from her vintage china collection. There were teacups and plates, a sugar bowl and teapot, and a crystal tiered serving dish. What a nice and thoughtful gift to give to her granddaughters! It will probably be a few more years before my daughter truly appreciates this gesture but I think that someday she will cherish these family heirlooms.

Moral of the story: when opening gifts, make sure you actually open the gift!

Aloha Friday - Disney Movies

Welcome to this week’s edition of Aloha Friday, hosted by Kailani over at An Island Life. In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day to take it easy and look forward to the weekend. So, on Fridays we can take it easy on blog posting, too.

I’ll ask a simple question for you to answer - nothing that requires a lengthy response. If you’d like to participate, visit An Island Life where you can link up with your own question and also visit the other participants! It’s a great way to make new bloggy friends!

For Christmas, I bought my daughter (age 15) the Disney Bambi movie on DVD. She had mentioned that she couldn't really remember watching very many Disney movies when she was younger, particularly Disney Princess movies. I know that she watched them as a young child because we have many of them on VHS. I decided I want to try and update our collection, however, I didn't realize that the DVD versions aren't always available. I guess I will have to try and watch for them as they are re-released and get them when I can.

What is your favorite Disney movie?

I love so many! A few of my very favorites are Dumbo and The Lion King.

Which Is Harder? Raising Babies or Raising Teenagers?

I remember when my kid were babies. It was a demanding job, raising little ones -- breastfeeding, diaper changes, sleepless nights, teething, making sure the house was child-proofed and the diaper bag was packed at all times. We had our four kids fairly close together, so there were times that we had more than one in diapers and more than one in a car seat. Heck, there was even a very short time that we had two in diapers and one in Pull-Ups. But, all in all, when I think back to that stage of our lives, I just don't recall it as being hard. We were blessed with good babies. They all took to nursing very easily (although three of them wouldn't take a bottle for anything), they didn't have any particular bouts of colic or fussiness that was out of the ordinary. They were healthy and happy. By the time we got to our third and fourth kids, we pretty much had things figured out. I must confess that sometimes when I would see parents who had only one or two babies complaining about how hard it was, I just had to laugh.

Now, we have teenagers (and a pre-teen). They are ages 18, 15, 13, and 11. While things are certainly a lot easier in the actual physical care we have to provide for them, there are many aspects that seem so much more difficult. Having them grow up and start to go out into the world on their own is way more scary to me than a bad case of diaper rash or a crying baby. Teaching them to drive and then sending them out in a car without you is terrifying. Seeing boys ogle your teenage daughter will probably piss you off. Watching your high school graduate feel lost and confused as he tries to decide a path for his future will tear you up inside. Letting them make mistakes that they can learn from is heart-wrenching , but sometimes necessary.

And, there's another aspect of difficulty in raising teenagers. Sometimes, they might sass you or defy you, or even say mean, ugly things to you. They might hurt your feelings so bad that you will be convinced that you don't like them anymore. Thankfully, in our house at least, these kind of things are few and far between and forgiveness is given easily.

So, I guess the point I'm making is that raising children is just plain hard, no matter what age or stage. But, it's also a source of tremendous joy and a blessing that I wouldn't want to be without. I consider giving birth to and raising four children my greatest life accomplishment. I may not always be good at it or always do the right thing, but we are a part of each other and I'm grateful to be their mom.

Commercials

I think these are just about the best commercials ever made! So sweet and so true. I tear up every time I watch.








How about you? Are there any commercials that really speak to you?

Interior Doors Painted Black

In case you didn't already know, I'm ate up with Pinterest. It's full of awesome, inspiring, beautiful, clever, helpful, humorous stuff.  Before Christmas, I shared with you my kitchen chalkboard project - which was inspired by Pinterest. Today, I'm going to share another home project that we are doing (also inspired by Pinterest).

We decided to paint our interior doors black.

It's something so simple yet makes such a dramatic change to our home. (When I say "simple" -- I mean simple for me. I didn't do any of the painting. DH is the resident painter and he did a fabulous job). I don't know that we will paint every single interior door black, that's still up in the air. I did a little informal questioning on Twitter about that and it seems the consensus was that all your interior doors do not have to be the same color. What do you think?

Here's a look at our kitchen pantry door "before"

And here's the same space after painting the door black

And, this is another shot of the doors off our kitchen leading to the basement and garage (I forgot to take before pics of this area, sorry). This is also one of the spaces I was referencing in my post about kitchen rugs.

We used a semi-gloss black paint and I'm loving it. One thing that is kinda funny...sometimes when we just happen to walk through the kitchen, we think the door to the garage is open because of the dark paint.

What color are your interior doors? What do you think of this look?

P.S. I would love to have you follow me on Pinterest.  Not yet on Pinterest? Just let me know and I would be happy to send you an invite. You will love all the wonderful awesomeness that you can discover there.

Movie Trailer Tuesday - Griffin & Phoenix

Welcome to Movie Trailer Tuesday. In case you're new around here, I'll fill you in on this weekly feature...I'm a huge movie-lover and a fan of many different genres of film. Each Tuesday, I share a movie/DVD recommendation here on my blog. It's not an in-depth review, just the movie trailer and a quick blurb about why I liked the movie, how it affected me, or what I learned from watching it. Some of my choices may be for you, some may not. But, hopefully it will help you find a few great movies to add to your to-watch list or your Netflix queue.


Today's trailer is Griffin & Phoenix. If you are looking for a Lifetime-esque movie (hopelessly romantic love story that will have you sobbing before it's over) then this is your flick. It stars the so-so handsome Dermot Mulroney and lovely Amanda Peet. They become involved in a romantic relationship, each not realizing that the other is facing some major life situations. A little sappy and deeply moving all at the same time. Check it out...this powerful story might just cause you to give a little thought to your own views on life and death.



Rated PG-13 for sexual content, some thematic elements, and brief strong language.

12 in 2012

I don't even want to utter the word "resolution" this year. I always make them, they are always pretty much the same every year, and I always fail miserably at them. So, instead of rattling off a list of my New Year's resolutions, I'm just going to tell you 12 things I would like to do in 2012.

Okay, yeah, I'm pretty much making a list of resolutions but just play along.

Ready, here goes...

1.  Lose weight. Yes, this is the one that is the same every year but I gotta include it.

2.  Eat healthy. Yes, this one is also the same every year. Again, gotta include it.

3.  Earn/Win enough Amazon gift codes to get a Schwinn exercise bike.

4.  Read 50 books. I only managed to finish 36 books in 2011 so I really have to get busy.

5.  Do something fun, spontaneous, and unexpected with my husband.

6.  Learn to knit. I'm usually all thumbs when it comes to crafty stuff but I really, really want to learn to knit.

7.  Study a foreign language.  I realize I'm not going to become fluent, but I really want to make a decent attempt at learning to speak another language. I'm sure there's an app for that.

8.  Join Ancestry.com and work on our family tree with my mom and sister.

9.  Teach my daughter to drive. She will be 16 in July. (Just typing that statement freaks me out!)

10. Start going to church.

11. Pay off debt.

12. Take a nice vacation with my family. It's been way to long since we've been able to do that.


How about you? What are some things you would like to do in 2012? I would love to hear about them...