blue, black, red, yellow, green, and Sochi

dinner

We're kind of obsessed with the Olympics at our house.  Every two years for two weeks, I give myself license to watch as much TV as I want.  The Olympics are the reason we have channels on our television.  (Honestly - Last Olympics, we couldn't get the antennae to work and only got the Spanish soap opera channel.  We got Dish purely to not miss the Olympics.)  Check out our Olympic-themed meal!  I made this for the Opening Ceremony.  What to do for the Closing?  Something that looks like a person weeping?  :)

dessert: fruit pizza with blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, bananas, & grapes

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"The idea of being taught consideration by a man who had just blasted away

half his living room wall seemed to be causing him intense suffering."

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

all things

I was playing a game with my cousins.  For the sake of ease, let's call this game Scattergories.  It wasn't, but it was similar enough that now you all know what I'm talking about without having to read a lengthy description.

Anyway.

One of the cousins was on the low end of the game's age recommendation, so some of the questions were a struggle for her.  At one point, she threw her pencil down and said, "I can't do this!"  Her sister argued that she could, but she stood her ground.  "No, I can't!  I can't do these."  To which her sister replied, "(her name here)!  Yes, you can!  'I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me!'"

About Scattergories.

I was shocked at her reference.  I was taken aback that anyone would use a scripture when encouraging someone to play Scattergories with them.

but I was also impressed.  That application of scripture really resounded with me; it meant much more than whether someone was doing well at Scattergories.  It was a strong, in-my-face reminder that the Gospel applies to every situation.  EVERY one.  And, I'll be honest, to hear someone's outburst that God can even help us play Scattergories showed me how much faith she had and how little I have when it comes to unimportant situations.

No, that's not right.  I have a strong belief that God helps in everything.  I just never thought of something like a party game being something to ask for help over.  But why not?  He cares.  Why not ask?

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"'...It matters not what someone is born, but what they grow to be.'"

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Choose to ignore impatient thoughts.

That's basically all I have to say.  It explains itself perfectly.  Choose to ignore impatient thoughts.



[quote found at marcandangelhacklife.com]

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"When you prohibit failure, you kill innovation."

Dan Pallotta

Cress

Happy Valentine's Day to me!

Joel rocks.

Also, if you haven't read the Lunar Chronicles series,

I highly recommend it.

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"Dudley was still clutching his bottom as though afraid it might fall off."

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Anne of Green Gables

My sister used to be obsessed with this movie.  (At least that's what it felt like.)  I hated it.  I thought it was the most boring movie EVER and refused to believe the book could be good.

Recently, I discovered a website full of free in-the-public-domain audiobooks and browsed around looking for something to listen to.  One of the only books they had that I'd heard of was the Anne of Green Gables series.  I listened to it.  And I gained an appreciation.  I wouldn't ever read it - there's too much flowery description to find entertaining - and I still ended up stopping halfway through Anne's House of Dreams, but listening was good.  If you've ever tried reading a book that you hated, try listening to it!  You might find it easier to finish that way.  :)

Imagination is good.  Encourage it in people.
Let children know you trust them.
Believe them.
When they're worked up, know it's okay to wait to talk to them until later.
Half the fun is in the anticipation.
Don't talk bad about teachers to their students.
Tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet.

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"'If there's any kindness I can show or any good thing I can do to any fellow being, then let me do it now and not deter or neglect it, as I shall not pass this way again.'"

Anne's House of Dreams

put your records on

I was on Facebook tonight and saw the following status:

Still collecting song recommendations! ...Anyone who would like to add anything, leave me a song in the comments! I  promise to tell everyone what I thought of all of them after I'm done listening.

So I replied.   Everyone else who replied left like... two suggestions.  I left 22.  But as I was going through songs I've been listening to a lot lately and deciding which ones to suggest, I realized I have really awesome taste in music.  As a result of my thinking this, I've decided to leave you all with a list and playlist of the 22 songs I recommended, just in case you're looking for something new / outside your regular routine.  You're welcome.  :)

"I'd give it all for you" - Jason Robert Brown

"Still hurting" - Jason Robert Brown

"Please speak well of me" - The Weepies

"Girls just wanna have fun" - Miley Cyrus

"The next 10 minutes" - Jason Robert Brown

"I hope" - Rebecca Ferguson

"Ready or not" - Bridget Mendler

"You make my dreams" - Hall & Oates

"Águas de março" - Elis Regina

"Red red rose" - The Weepies

"Bucket" - Carly Rae Jepson

"The house that built me" - Maranda Lambert

"La copa de todos" - David Correy, Wisin, Paty Cantu

"Teo torriate" - cover by Melee

"Out of mind" - Tove Lo

"Every good thing" - The Afters

"Flyover states" - Jason Aldean

"Gracie" - Ben Folds

"Merry go 'round" - Kacey Musgraves

"Say something" - A Great Big World + Christina Aguilera.

"Put your records on" - Corinne Bailey Rae

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“That was an excellent breakfast, wasn’t it?” said Harry.  “I feel really full, don’t you?”

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

that reminds me... cars with only one headlight

Every time I'm driving / riding along at night and see a car pass by that only has one headlight, I think of my Driver's Ed class.  Specifically, I think of a multiple choice question I had to answer as part of that class:

When you're driving in the dark or fog and see a vehicle with only one headlight, you should...

a. drive as if the vehicle is a motorcycle

b. drive as if the vehicle is a car with a headlight burned out

c. drive like you normally do

Okay, I basically made up (c), although the original was something like that.  The point is, the answer was (b).

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We seem to be socialized to believe the grass is always greener on the other side and if someone different than you is considered beautiful, that automatically means you are not. Garbage!

Chai (that's a person)

the Goblet of Fire

Frank Bryce.  Every time I read the book or watch the movie, I feel so so bad for him.  He seems like such a lonely old man.  I think people forget that Voldemort ruined his life, too, when he killed the Riddles.

Wormtail is more despicable to me than Voldemort.  Should that happen?  I really loathe him.  I can hardly bear looking at him while he's on screen.  Also, Baby Voldemort is way less ugly in the movie.  In the book, horrible.  In the movie, almost cute.  YES, I did just call Baby Voldemort almost cute.  Sue me.  It's the same as when Draco looked so good in the fourth movie and everyone thought I was crazy because he's the bad guy so I shouldn't find him attractive.  Well, you're all just going to have to get over it.  All of the good guys had horrible hair.

If you've never watched Harry discover Dumbledore's pensieve while listening to Joel, in Jimmy Fallon's teenage girl voice, saying, "Ew!  Oh. My. Goodness.  A pensieve!  EW!  Old person memories!!" believe me when I say YOU SHOULD.  You'll die laughing.

Because this isn't my favorite movie (WOAH. Calm down. I still love it. I just like some of the other HP movies better), I tend to forget how much I like the book.  This book is one of the best ones.  I love it.

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"'Yeh'll do wha' yer told,' he growled, 'or I'll be takin' a leaf outta Professor Moody's book... I hear yeh made a good ferret, Malfoy.'"

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire