From Chaos Comes Happiness

A few months ago, I had to call Comcast (our cable and Internet provider) with a question about some new charges appearing on our monthly bill. I’m usually rather tough when dealing with sales people who try to sell me more than I need . . . remember me? “I like what I like”? So, I found myself discussing our bill with a very polite man, who (surprisingly) took care of all my concerns and adjusted our account accordingly. As we were completing our phone call, he presented me with a GREAT offer . . . to receive their monthly magazine and guidebook in mail for a low fee of $3.00 a month. Hmmm . . . do I really need this monthly guide? Of course not. I mean, we have a guide that appears right on the television to tell me what is on at any given moment. I don’t need a magazine to tell me. So, I turned him down. Then he offered me 6 months for free . . . and the subscription will continue after that at the low $3.00 a month rate. You know those old Tom & Jerry cartoons? When Spike, ...

PG and I have a little difference of opinions. But don’t worry . . . he knows nothing about it. Kind of like that time when I went on strike. You remember, don’t you? The big "Strike of 2010" (when I wasn’t doing laundry and dishes AT ALL, but he had no idea I was on Strike. I wrote about it here .) Yes, it’s kind of like that. You see, I like to spend the days and weeks leading up to the holidays surrounded 100% in total holiday joy. Which means; we watch holiday movies, we sing holiday songs, we eat holiday foods, we wear holiday socks. PG, on the other hand, does it a little differently. PG watches the Alien Trilogy , Modern Family , or outrageously silly Comedy Central shows. Now, while all of these maybe be perfectly fine (Modern Family is a great show), I just can’t seem to bring myself to do it. I cannot spend a single December day or evening watching . . . Alien Trilogy (or any of the others . . . except maybe Modern Family). I can’t. It’s just not...

Just returned from Eat, Pray, Love . . . and it was . . . wonderful. I am a Julia Roberts fan, and have SO been enjoying reading the book this summer, so I knew going into it that chances are I was going to LOVE it. And yes, it did not disappoint.  I know that most films adapted from books are usually missing something from the original source, and there were a few moments when I felt they were 'rushing' it a bit . . . but how long can my bottom really sit in those movie theater seats afterall? I mean, the 2 hour mark in most films is when things start falling asleep. So, I understand they had to move it along. All in all - I was so completely thrilled with the outcome! I joined along in this amazing, self discovery journey. And at the end, my heart was FULL. I am feeling peace. I am feeling whole. I want to meditate. I want to travel. I want to get to know myself again.  (Of course, the whole evening may have been even more of a joy as it was my f...

Last week my blog friend Linda at See Mom Smile wrote a great post called "A double standard I can live with . . . " (click on the post title to link to her blog.) I must admit, I enjoyed it so much . . . because I have . . . a celebrity crush. Yes, I do. And Linda inspired me to share it with you. My crush is on . . . Troy from High School Musical . It's not right, I know. It's all wrong, I know. I'm twice his age, I know. But I would go to jail for him, I know. (Wait!! Did I say that outloud? Forgive me!) I just think he's a cutie. I mean . . . it's not like I would go out and buy this pillow or anything . . . It's not like I actually went to two Targets looking for it last year. I mean . . . it's not that bad, right? Imagine my surprise when I ran into him . . . We make a cute couple, don't you think? Ok . . . you got me. It's not actually him. Was it his glistening glow that gave it away? Good thing Katie wasn't with me on our...

HELLO FRIENDS!!!!! So sorry I haven't been around the past few days. . . I've been knee deep in Eat Pray Love this week and have spent all of my free time absorbed in the pages of that book. Have you read it? Such a wonderful look at the authors search for peace . . . spiritual, emotional, physical, all of it. I am absolutely LOVING this book and have found myself reading it with a little notebook next to me so that I can jot down inspiring thoughts that come to my mind as I read it. SO fantastic. And, of course, with these little inspiring thoughts . . . come some more of those darn "Random Thinking Moments". This time, my thought went from Eat Pray Love, the book, to Eat Pray Love, the MOVIE (which is due out in theaters this August.) In case you didn't know - the movie stars Julia Roberts (who I DO adore. I mean . . . what's NOT to love about Runaway Bride and Notting Hill and Pretty Woman ?) Anyway, as I found myself thinking about Julia Roberts and thi...

Last week, my friend Jorie brought something up that I felt I had to explore a little. We talked in my friend Kathleen's kitchen (over a glass of Cabernet and lots of laughter, mind you). All of a sudden Jorie said, "Do you ever wonder who would actually come to your funeral?" My immediate reaction was like . . . um, no . . . that's kind of . . . morbid. But then, as she elaborated on her thought, I have to tell you - I was kind of hooked. "Don't you ever think about who would actually come? Like if the people who really say they are your friends are your friends and come to both the wake and the funeral?" she said, "Or, what if they only really 'stop by' the wake for, like, a 1/2 hour." I told her that maybe we should put together a little mailing to everyone in our address books, right now . It could say something like: Dear Friend, Please don't think I'm crazy. I really was just wondering if would you be so kind as to ch...

"Mom . . . where did my alien go?" is the line I have heard about 100 times the past few nights, as I put Ella (or attempt to put Ella) to sleep. "Mom, the alien in my bed. Mom, where'd the alien go?" she'd ask. To which I'd always reply, "Oh, honey, there's no such thing as aliens." "MOM . . . WHERE DID YOU PUT MY ALIEN?" she'd question, again, and again. I have to tell you . . . this alien thing was getting OLD. I have spent the past few nights going over 100 areas of concern for my Ella, as the loss of this "alien" was REALLY bothering her. I was about to put a moratorium on the Sci-Fi channel in our house, and had proof positive why "FUTURAMA" is not an appropriate show for our 3 year old, even if her father thinks it's perfectly fine for her. I was certain that the Avatar commercials her Daddy insists on watching over and over had finally taken toll on her sweet girl mind, and was about to ba...

Ella has discovered "The Wizard of Oz" and it has been playing, pretty much non-stop, in our house for the past week or so. It's funny how you can know a movie so well that you can recite practically every single line from it, with the same inflection and tone as on the film. It's also funny how a line from a movie that you have heard a million times before can suddenly hit you like a ton of bricks and make you think. Gees . . . I hate when that happens (the thinking.) It always disrupts my rather clueless state! ; ) Today I actually stopped what I was doing when I overheard the Wizard say to the Tin Man, A heart is not judged by how much you love; but by how much you are loved by others. Seriously. I'm sure I have heard that line a gazillion times in my life. But today, it was almost as if it was the very first time. A heart is not judged by how much you love; but by how much you are loved by others. So great, isn't it? I'm going to let you ponder that...

AMAZING!!! MAGICAL!! Absolutely INCREDIBLE!! Today we went and saw "A Christmas Carol" in 3D at the Navy Pier IMAX theater in downtown Chicago, and it was all of the above - and then some. You know the story - you've heard it, watched it and thought about it before. Let me tell you - this movie brought it all full circle to me today. I sat in this theater with my husband, daughters, sister, and brother-in-law, and I was in a state of complete disbelief that animated movies are able to look so completely real. I sat thinking about how talented and brilliant Robert Zemeckis is, to have created this film. I sat thinking about how gifted all the people involved in bringing this film to life must be - how I wish I had just one little teeny tiny itty bit of their creativity. Just brilliant. And Jim Carrey - he was awesome. I actually forgot it was Jim Carrey and became lost in this Ebenezer Scrooge. Just Fantastic. The movie did have a few "dark" moments in it, but m...

I don't care what you say about them . . . scary movies are NO FUN for me. I just came to this realization a couple years ago - right about the time I was sitting in our local movie theater with some dear neighbors and friends, watching that Rob Zombie's Halloween Movie. It was 2007, and I remember the moment like it was yesterday. . . . it was about 30 minutes into the movie, and I couldn't see anything. Why? you ask? Because I had tucked the greasy buttered popcorn napkin over my glasses (I was desperate) in an attempt to block out having to look at the horrific scenes being played on the screen before me. Then I decided to block out the sound of the movie as well, as I stuck my buttered popcorn hands over my ears, and started rocking back and forth in my seat. Yes, I was that terrified (and I was quite a scene to those around me, I am sure.) That movie was so gross and scary and horrific to me. I could not watch it, or hear it, at all. So there I was sitting in the ...

I just returned from seeing Julie & Julia - and I absolutely ADORED it! It was Wonderful, Delightful and Charming . . . I found myself sitting in the theater with a smile on my face from the moment it started to the moment it ended, just soaking in the fun of these characters and this movie. It interested me not only because of my love of cooking, but also due to my recent interest in blogging. I watched this movie feeling very much like Julie Powell, who was at a point in her life were she wanted to make a difference - to do something that mattered. Her idea to blog the process of cooking all of Julia's recipes in 1 year came from a strong desire within herself to do something incredible, and see it through from start to finish. Amy Adams was excellent! and Meryl Streep was phenomenal - seconds into the movie I truly forgot I was watching Meryl Streep and just enjoyed Julia Child. Really, the lady is brilliant and I can't say much more about her. Nora Ephron did it again ...