Things I'm LOVING

Here is what is going on in my life right now. Things I'm enjoying, maybe even mildly obsessing over...

1. Spotify
Do you Spotify? It's free to have on your computer, and you can listen to pretty much anything you want, as long as it's available on Spotify. You can make playlists, recommend tracks to friends who use Spotify (you can connect to Facebook), and install some of their apps into the music browser to make your music listening more enjoyable.  It's like Pandora, but you have control over what you listen to. I pay $9.99 a month to have Spotify Premium and listen to my music on my phone (HTC Incredible 2 running Android 2.3.4). J also has a subscription because we were sharing mine and it would kick one or the other off when we tried to listen. Totally worth the $20/month between the two of us (because, frankly, it holds his CD obsession at bay until the new CDs he wants go on sale). I have several playlists at the moment. I'm loving my "Sing to the King" playlist, which is a bunch of worship songs I enjoy.

2. The Hunger Games
I, like most of the world, read the books a while back (shortly after they announced they were making a movie) and LOVED them. While I think the first book was the best of the trilogy, the whole series definitely gave me and everyone else something to think about.  For example, reality TV: In the world of Panem, everything about the Hunger Games was broadcast. Everything. There were cameras in rocks, trees, the mud... Katniss knew that everything she was doing was being broadcast to the entire country because that's what had been done for each of the past 74 Games. How far away from that are we? Our country is obsessed with reality TV... Survivor is not that much different than the world of the Hunger Games, really.
Anyway, I was anxiously awaiting the movie.  Some people don't like seeing movie adaptations of books they loved because they are always disappointed. And I think that on some level, if you go in expecting everything exactly how you pictured it in the book, you will be disappointed.  Because unless your name is Suzanne Collins or Gary Ross, it's not your interpretation. However, I try to stay as open minded as possible because books and movies are two totally different media. I thought the movie delivered. It was one of the best book-to-movie adaptions I have ever seen. Yes, there are some things they changed, but overall I walked out of there feeling like I saw a great book brought to life. They only showed The Hob briefly, but it was what I always pictured. And the stark contrast between the impoverished District 12 and the elaborate, superficial Capitol? A-freaking-mazing. I'm not going to talk too much more about it in case you haven't seen it. Just know that I loved it and can't wait to see it again. J and I are going to see it on Sunday. (I saw HP7.2 like 5 or 6 times in the theaters, and I can see that happening again with this movie.)

3. Laughing Cow Light Swiss Cheese and Pretzels.
YUM. That's all I really need to say about that. =)

4. Draw Something

I don't often pay for apps, but this one was worth 99c in just the two days since I've bought it. I have a gazillion games going and I love it. It's so fun to see how other people interpret the different words. I'm even playing against my friend who is a graphic artist. So his drawings are ALWAYS better than mine. =)

Update to my 101 list

I need to address a few things regarding my 101 in 1001 list. (I'm loving doing it, by the way, so don't think that this is me bowing out.) Some things have changed and I need to update some stuff...

First, I had a self imposed deadline to establish #101 of April 1. I've figured out what I want to do as my last one, and it actually works nicely because it falls under the "Love" category.

Their t-shirt for their domestic violence campaign.

Sevenly is a non-profit that sells a different t-shirt each week. Shirts are $22 and $7 goes to the week's charity.  Each shirt is only featured for a week and they don't ever make more than is ordered, so they are really a limited time only thing. This week's cause is Show Hope. More specifically, to help orphans in Africa. In the month or so since I've become aware of them, they have helped victims of domestic violence, raised money for clean water in India, and raised awareness for autism. I haven't bought one yet, but I think this is a really cool way to show support of a cause. So goal #101 is to buy 3 Sevenly t-shirts and 1 Sevenly hoodie.  I have a friend who has bought several Sevenly shirts, so hopefully this won't turn into a new addiction of mine. =)

Second, we're quitting our gym, so as of right now goal #10 is up for grabs. I will think of something new by May 1, 2012.

I'm in the middle of something for #5, gearing up for #61, and am planning my first Facebook fast next week (#30). All in all, things are shaping up pretty well. (Also, I go to New York in 25 days!!)

Bittersweet

Did your grade school do Leprechaun traps as a project around St. Patrick's Day? Mine did, and I even did them with my Pre-K kids last year.  That used to be the most significant thing about St. Patrick's Day in my mind. Not anymore.

Now, St. Patrick's Day has two very large, very important memories attached to it. Which makes today very bittersweet.

After the Chris Tomlin concert Nov. 2011

You see, on St. Patrick's Day 5 years ago, Jerome got down on his knee and asked my the Question. The one that changes your whole life. Obviously, I said yes. We were celebrating our 2nd anniversary by doing dinner at the Top of the Riverfront, a rotating restaurant downtown on top of the Millenium Hotel. Then we went to the Arch grounds for a walk and he asked me to be his wife. (For those of you doing the math, we've been together for 7 years.) He's my best friend, and an incredibly Godly man, and I am so blessed to have him in my life.

From J's aunt's Facebook page.

But, also on St. Patrick's Day, 4 years ago (a year into our engagement), Jerome's cousin committed suicide. We were blindsided. He and Jerome were like best friends. They had begun sharing an apartment together, and David was to be a groomsman in our wedding. But even though they lived together, we didn't see any of the typical warning signs. No depression, no giving away of prized possessions, nothing. He was headed out to a friend's diaper poker party with brownies and Jello shots on Sunday and dead the next morning. He was smart. He was funny. He was kind. And we miss him.

Wow... Has it Really been 3 Years??

I typed this up on Monday or Tuesday with the intention of adding photos and posting it on Wednesday. Then time ran away, so I didn't get to it. Hence the 3 day late post, AND the double post...

3 years ago today was one of the best days of my life.

I got prettied up. 

 I took a bunch of photos

And most importantly,

I said "I do."

Taken at my best
friend's wedding
October 2011

Jerome and I have learned a lot over the last three years, and we're still learning. We're learning about each other and about marriage, and about who we want to be for the other.

It's been an amazing three years, but they've gone by so quickly. I know that when we're celebrating our fourth or tenth or thirtieth anniversary, I'll be saying the same thing.

When I said "I do," I didn't mean for that day. I didn't mean for the next few years. I didn't mean "unless we grow unhappy with each other." I said "I do" for my entire life.

I said "I do" to my husband and to God, and I made a promise, pledge, commitment, to both of them that I would be faithful, and loving, and respectful, and caring. But above all, that I would be THERE. My husband is my best friend, and I can't wait to see what the next three years bring.

I'M GOING TO NEW YORK!!! (part 2)

So... remember how I booked a plane ticket to New York for March 30? That would be in 2.5 weeks.  Except that about a month ago, the week after I bought that ticket, I remembered that March 30 was a bad weekend to go.

I already had plans.

My sister in law's wedding.

Yep, I had total tunnel vision when booking my flight. I was so excited about going to NYC that I didn't stop to think about what might be scheduled that week!  Luckily, I was able to cancel my reservation and re-book. I even told my sister-in-law because I knew she would get a kick out of it!

So instead,I'm going April 20-23. Which is honestly probably better because it gives me a chance to save more money! =)  I am very excited though. Any suggestions on what to see?

Wow! It really works!

I have a board on Pinterest that's called "Good to Know." On it, I have things like easy ways to clean or things that make me go, "Whoa! Why didn't I think of that??!" One thing I've been wanting to try and see if it works is this one.

It's a method of cleaning those grease pans underneath your burners. Let's face it -- they aren't scrubbable. I don't care how long you let it soak in hot water with "grease cutting" detergent -- the nasty residue just WON'T COME OFF. It was annoying me, to the point where I contemplated just buying new ones and pitching the old ones. Then I saw that pin and thought, "$1 for ammonia versus $10 for new burner pans... May as well try it!" So I assembled my equipment:

I poured a capful or so of ammonia in a Zip Loc and then put the burner pan in there. Then I closed the bag and let the ammonia fumes do their work.

 I left it for 2 days and when I was done, I had a bag of nasty dirty ammonia and a nice, clean stove drip pan.

The ammonia fumes are what cleans the pans, not the ammonia itself, so once I closed up the bag, I tried to set it so that the ammonia was in a pool underneath the overturned pan. I love it when things like this work, because I hear that other things circling on Pinterest don't work. 

This is project #1 of my 3 Pinterest things I must complete for my 101 in 1001.