Gleeful Singing
I bought the Glee Season 1 CD a few weeks ago and have been playing it almost non-stop since I got it. I am the type of person who rocks out in the car, so the CD is perfect. My favorite song has to be the last song, "Defying Gravity," sung by Lea Michelle and Chris Colfer (see youtube clip here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuFE7mgpY5Q). I guess my girls have heard the songs a few thousand times because my 5 year old (Em) was belting out the tunes tonight on our drive home from school. What was so hilarious about the singing was her flourish arms at the end of each chorus. That kid is a born entertainer. Unfortunately, with as much as I love singing, show tunes, and musicals, my singing is strictly in the car or in the shower-not fit for human consumption. Hopefully she'll cultivate a singing voice to go with her big flourishes (complete with jazz hands). Hilarious!
The Game Post
If you don't like college football, you may not want to read this post, or, you may read this post and decide that you do like college football.
Once we made it to our seats, the excitement was palpable. All our hopes and dreams. We all felt robbed last year, and vindicated this year to have gone 13-0 and we DESERVED to be there. The game started with a bang! (That's smoke from fireworks).
It's no secret that I was fortunate enough to go to the BCS National Championship to watch the Texas Longhorns play. I was so excited.
When I decided where to go to college, I deliberately selected a school with lots of different people, activities, and views. I picked a school that offered more than just academics, a real community of people with the added bonus of sports. Of course, the scholarship didn't hurt either! Saturday games were one of my favorite parts of school. I loved walking down Guadalupe before a game and seeing the windows painted for the game. I loved seeing the crowd dressed in orange, the cheering, the chanting, the camaraderie. I miss game day. I miss walking from the house with the friends to see the game. My husband and I attended our share of TX v OU games in Dallas before the kids came (when tickets got super hard to find and super expensive!). However, I haven't been to a Texas football game in years. So, I jumped at the opportunity to attend the biggest game of the year.
The game embodied all of the best parts of game day that I have sorely lacked: fight songs on the plane, seeing a sea of orange, feeling at home in boots and Longhorn gear. The good type of mob mentality, where everyone speaks your language: stats on past games, QB completion percentages, past victories, the "Hook 'Em" sign everywhere. It gave me the chills. I loved every single second of it. And, of course the tailgating! Yes, I look tired, not only is watching football hard work, but I also was traveling all day and we walked about 5 miles to get to and from the game!!
As we walked to our seats, the team walked to their tunnel right under us. We saw everyone, Mack Brown even flashed us the "Hook 'Em" sign. (My phone was in my purse, so I couldn't get a picture of it- AUGH.) It was awesome, This was going to be great!
Once we made it to our seats, the excitement was palpable. All our hopes and dreams. We all felt robbed last year, and vindicated this year to have gone 13-0 and we DESERVED to be there. The game started with a bang! (That's smoke from fireworks). Awesome, we are leading...oh wait. NO, It can't be!! Colt is injured? Out after 5 plays? Are you kidding? A collective gasp of dread could be heard. (A sigh of relief I'm sure from the 'Bama fans)
But then, our team really came together and started playing well. We were all pleasantly surprised. We were actually amazed. Even though Garrett Gilbert was an excellent high school player, he's taken so few snaps this season, it was difficult to get a feel for what he'd do. It was no Colt and Jordan. In fact, we all saw Vince Young and Major Applewhite and wondered if we could somehow get them in uniform for a few plays.
Halftime approaches...Bama scores again. This is not going well. We do win the battle of the bands. While our band's costumes look like Howdy Doody, our band plays better. Even though they had like 40 baton twirlers, our one twirler had 3 flaming batons! It was kind of awesome. So, win on that one.
Then, the third quarter, and we start doing really well. No scores for Bama. We're holding them really well. Ingram is not looking that impressive. In fact, we move within 3- it's 21 to 24 with only 3 minutes left. Oh my God, we can do this! We can win, even without our star starting quarterback. Totally doable. 
3 minutes left. Oh no, interception. Oh well...ouch. Another score. It's over now. But, I'm not depressed. I know why. Everyone doubted us (again). Every sports analyst picked Alabama and predicted that they'd run over us. They didn't. Yes, they won. I'll never say they didn't. BUT, they would not have won if Colt was in. No way. No how. In fact, I think we would have beat them by significantly more than 10 points. Although I remain unimpressed by Greg Davis, our defensive strategy was impressive. Mack was the better coach. The team played like a team. I think they were a little rushed; trying to make thins happen. But, they really came together. I'm proud to be a Longhorn. 13-1 is nothing to be ashamed of. I'm proud of my school, I'm proud of my team, I'm proud of the fans. I'm proud to have seen the class and grace under pressure. College football at its best and finest and I was glad to be a part of it.
*Next story- Why going to the game earned me the title "Worst Mother of the Year."
Friday Favorite- The Help
I have two huge posts to process about the game, but I just got home and am tired. So, those will have to wait. Until then, I am posting my Friday Favorite- Kathryn Stockett's book, The Help. I just finished "The Help" by Katheryn Stockett and am so impressed. I read the book on the flight to and from LAX and finished in record time. I had to buy another book because I still had one flight to go! The story(ies) are so engrossing, I did not want it to end. I found it to be a quick read, but expertly written. The book is just fascinating. I don't think I've read such a great book in quite some time. If you haven't read this book, buy it now http://www.amazon.com/Help-Kathryn-Stockett/dp/0399155341/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1229704607&sr=8-1. You will not be sorry.
Catalog Inspiration
Now that Christmas is over, another onslaught of catalogs has started. This time, I don't mind the amount of catalogs as I have already gotten a number of ideas. I see that Pottery Barn is going in a more rustic/farmhouse direction. The Pottery Barn buyers must have been searching the design and decorating blogs this year because they have a number of items that look like they were taken from Layla or the Nester's site:
Along with ideas like the chalkboard wall (I have done it, so easy, so useful). Please don't pay $100 for a chalkboard, it is the easiest project ever!
I love the luminaries.
I also was inspired by the Ballard Designs catalog. They embroidered/monogrammed two bed bolster pillows with "You" and "Me." I think it would be really easy to just use fabric paint instead. I might add that to my craft list for the Spring. I am determined to redo our bedroom this year.
How about you? Any inspiration from catalogs? Do you love to page through them as much as I do?
Extra time, Extra Projects
My family has really enjoyed this Holiday break. The girls and I have worked on an number of art projects, puzzles, and games. My husband completely cleaned and reorganized the garage. Hopefully that will last! I was able to edit all our photos from Christmas and reorganize some of the closets inside. Along the way we managed to watch most of the bowl games. But, the best was a fun surprise on tv yesterday, it was New Year's Slay-Buffy the Vampire Slayer was on all day. It was awesome. Anyone who knows me knows I LOVE Buffy. Watching Buffy is the reason I do not get the whole Twilight thing now-it's basically a cheap version of Buffy and Angel. Vampire who doesn't kill people, protecting the girl he loves, battles against evil....pretty much Buffy. Only Angel is way hotter than Edward and Buffy is way more interesting than Bella. Of course I couldn't watch it all day since I have children and it's not really the most appropriate thing for young children to watch. Although I do love Buffy's message about women being able to stand up for themselves, value of friends, etc. etc. I make no apologies, that was a great series and I was so sad when it ended, Angel too (although that got weird at the end).
My point was that there are certain shows and movies that I have to watch when they come on: Buffy being the show and Pride and Prejudice, Lara Croft, Mummy and Mr & Mrs. Smith being the movies. Are there any shows or movies that you get sucked in when they are on?
My point was that there are certain shows and movies that I have to watch when they come on: Buffy being the show and Pride and Prejudice, Lara Croft, Mummy and Mr & Mrs. Smith being the movies. Are there any shows or movies that you get sucked in when they are on?
Football thoughts
Football Talk- Can you believe that Texas Tech fired Mike Leach? My guess is that they wanted a reason to tell fans and the sports community in general why they were firing Leach, other than "We didn't want to pay him the $800K bonus." But, really? Mike Leach was the best coach they've had. And, after this stunt, the best coach they'll get for a long time. Even if he didn't play by their rules, he was still much better than they could have hoped for. If I were a college coach or player being interviewed by Craig James, I'd tell him to go jump off a pier. No way would I give that man the time of day. He and his son managed to torpedo another Texas team. I wish Mike Leach well. While I thought his team was one-dimensional, he was successful with the passing offense. But, he is a smart coach and someone who doesn't suffer fools. So, I have to respect that. I hope he wins a big settlement with Tech and goes on to find a better team next year.
Did you see the Northwestern-Auburn game? The OT was surreal: You won, no you won, no you won, no we have another play, oh, another play. Crazy. What a way to start the 2010 football season (OK, really end the 2009 football season).
Did you see the Northwestern-Auburn game? The OT was surreal: You won, no you won, no you won, no we have another play, oh, another play. Crazy. What a way to start the 2010 football season (OK, really end the 2009 football season).
Friday Favorites- Letter From Santa
My girls are 3 and 5, so I figured this year they would understand and appreciate direct contact from Santa. Also, one of my darling children needed some "encouragement" from the big guy (ahem). I found a number of Santa calls, emails, and letters companies on the internet. I ultimately went with an etsy seller Inspired Studio and could not be more thrilled. Christine did a fabulous job incorporating the information I gave her about my girls, their lists, even our Elf. The girls Loved receiving the letter from Santa. It is beautifully written and decorated. Christine weaves a lovely story about the Clauses and elf life in the North Pole. My husband is not as easily impressed as I am, and he was really amazed at the letter. I can not wait to get another letter next year. The item listing can be found here: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=34624413
A letter from Santa is definitely one of my favorite parts of this Christmas.
A letter from Santa is definitely one of my favorite parts of this Christmas.
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