Flashback Friday

To make amends for my 2 week gap in posting...I present to you my professional graduation pictures. My friend Ashley's parents found them in her bedroom and sent them to her. She was ever gracious to them and has since put them all on the fridge.

WHY OH WHY DO WE TAKE PROFESSIONAL GRAD PICTURES AND DISTRIBUTE THEM LIKE TRADING CARDS???

I think we still have a bunch left over so if you would like a copy for your wallet or fridge (or both) please send all requests to my mom directly at: danny3451@aol.com

Flashback Friday

We had a glorious glorious class at Cottonwood Point Elementary School called R.E.A.D. It was an acronym for something that I can't remember but fittingly, it was a library class. R.E.A.D. was 30 minutes of pure bliss followed by 30 more minutes of bliss which was computer class (floppy disks, Oregon trail- basically a whole Flashback Friday worth of content right there).

I have vivid memories sitting on these pillow/chair/crazy creek type things and reading....FEAR STREET. The boys got their Goosebumps, we got our Fear Street. Raise your hand if you remember these! Raise your hand if you loved reading time!

FEAR STREET!

"Brady Karlin is getting on with his life. The memory of his girlfriend- killed in a gruesome sledding accident last year- is beginning to fade. Now he's met Rosha Nelson, the girl of his dreams. And now he's never been happier. Until Brady starts to see a strange figure- with a terribly scarred face- following him everywhere. Until the horrible accidents start happening- every time Rosha's around. Has dating Rosha made Brady's dreams come true? Or brought his worst nightmares back to life?"

"As the Shadyside High School prom queen candidates are brutally murdered one by one, leaving only one, everyone speculates as to whether she will be the killer's next target."

"Tina can't wait for her first college weekend at her boyfriend's college. However, when she arrives, Josh's roommate Chris is there to meet her. He tells her Josh went camping and couldn't get back in time. Tina soon becomes suspicious as Chris is a little creepy and may even be obsessed."

"Driving back from a ski weekend, Ariel, Shannon, and Doug have offered their new friend Red a ride home. When a blizzard makes the roads nearly impassable, Red leads the teens to a farmhouse where they can spend the night. Unfortunately, their shelter is not the safe haven it appears: it's residents have their own plans for Ariel and her friends."

And my absolute favorite...THE FACE.

"Why can't she remember? They say something horrible happened that day. But Martha can't remember any of it- not the smallest detail. They say it will come back to her in time. But someone wants her to remember now. She draws his face, over and over- the face of a dead boy. She can't control her hand. And she can't remember how he died. But she's going to find the answer. Even if it lies with the dead."

Flashback Friday

A glorious, glorious announcement came last week. It was like an announcement sent from heaven, really.

Pop Up Video is coming back.

WAHOOO!!! Pop Up Video!!!!!! Just the sound of the intro (that gulp, gulp, gulp of the bubbles) invokes happy memories from my 90s childhood. Now that I think about it, Pop Up Video definitely had something to do with my early interest in the TV production world. I clearly remember being like 9 years old, watching the show and thinking how cheap it must be to produce. Who thinks that way when they're 9? Apparently me. Pop Up Video made you feel smarter, made you like songs more and was just damn cool. In an age where music videos on TV are all but obsolete, I say: welcome back old pal, you've been missed!!

Flashback Friday

I dedicate this Flashback Friday to my newly purchased obsession, a Crosley traveler portable turntable, and the three singles that I was given for free yesterday at the record shop:

That's right....I know own Destiny's Child on vinyl. And you guys, Beyonce has never sounded better. PARTY AT MY PLACE. I'm providing the Zima.

Flashback Friday- Beshizzle my Flizzle

It was 25 years ago today that my little pookie roommate was born.

Flashback 16 years to the summer of hell.

The scene: Camp Sabra. Age: 8.

I was away from home for the first time and was terrified. Things quickly went from bad to worse. I wasn't allowed to be in the camp play. My counselor had epilepsy. There was a wasp nest above my bed. ....and me and my bunkmate, Liz Beshears, hated each other. We bickered and fought- one time she threw batteries at my face and I punched her in the head.

But an unlikely thing made the summer a little bit easier. It was my crazy roommate, Lizzy Beshears, the one who I punched and fought with. Because after each day of fighting and yelling and not getting along- she'd let me sleep in her bunk with her because I was so homesick. Every day we'd fight, every night I'd sleep in her bed. She even let me hold her stuffed animals.

So from the time I was 8, I have always had a soft spot for Lizzy Beshears.

Flashback 10 years to confirmation class.

Flashback 7 years to college.

Then flashback to a year ago when she became my roommate.

It's been a lifetime of knowing each other and the whole time, I always knew her secret of being a softy that shared her stuffed animals.

So happy birthday to one of the sweetest, most caring people I know, Lizzy Sheila Fliz Bookie Beshears. Thanks for giving me one of the best years of my life. Sorry about that head punch.

A springy revelation

Oh boy it's getting toasty out. I can almost taste the lazy afternoons filled with sangria, sun bathing and watching shirtless boys play frisbee in the park. Siiigh.

It's all nice and dandy and lovely that spring is finally here but with the warmer weather came the horrible realization that I'm out of clothes. Out. No more. I have none.

Seriously, if I don't act swiftly and get to shopping, I'll soon be watching those frisbee boys while sitting in the park in the nude. And while that might get me a couple of phone numbers...you know those are not the kind of boys I'd bring home to Mom.

I have a point here I promise.

See, the lack of wardrobe directly correlates with my lack of personal funds. Broke broke broke = naked naked naked. But! Alas! The Tax Refund Fairy came!

So I'm setting aside some money and with the help of Life Coach, Rachel Darrow, I'm going to build myself an entire new wardrobe. I'll be blogging throughout the process for your reading pleasure. You're welcome.

Step 1-

Completely go through my closet and purge anything that I haven't worn in a year. Oprah taught me that.

Step 2-

Roam the city on a warm, Saturday afternoon and awkwardly take pictures of girls on my cell phone for "research."

Step 3-

Shopping game plan. I'm picturing it involving lots of staple pieces, maybe a few surprises and definitely some glitter.

Step 4-

Pose in said new clothes and take pictures so that the internet can bask in my glory. I'll pretend I'm her. And her. And her. Definitely her.

Raise your hand if you're excited!

Flashback Friday

Listened to ___

Obsessed with ____

Best friend was ____

(ps- this is an interactive post- guess the answer then click the lines for results. snazzy)

Flashback Friday

I've had a really big week ladies and gents. If you follow me on my various social networks other than GMT, you know why. Woohoooooo. I'll post about it later when I'm not up to my needing-to-be-waxed eyebrows in work. In the meantime, I'm off to San Diego today to celebrate Passover by laying on a beach with a mimosa in one hand and my dog in the other (I couldn't fit Sophie's rather voluptuous frame in one hand if I tried, but you know what I mean).

So! That's my life, don't wear it out!

I leave you with a Flashback Friday of an affirmation of your greatness because I love you all. I see POWER. I see PRIDE. ...I'll stop.

Flashback Friday

I'm listing this as a Flashback Friday because it's like I'm flashing back to past Britney with this video. It's perfection. I'm pretttty sure any street cred I gained with that last Tune Yards song below, I've officially now lost. Let's just think of me as an eclectic music listener. I leave you with my all time favsies Britney video.

I hope to one day do a frosty/smokey eye to the level of perfection that was achieved in this video. Rrrrawr.

Flashback Friday

My parent's used to wonder why I went to the movies so much growing up... I claimed I had an affinity to the surround sound speakers and super plush seating. But really, I just wanted to visit my hot boyfriend aka the poster that attempted to prevent people from going into movies underage. I'm pretty sure I used to dream of Bobby Teenager more than Devon Sawa and JTT combined. Don't lie...you did too.

Flashback Friday

Editor's Note:

Soooo I clearly haven't been making people happy with my once a week posting situation I've had going on. I think the weather is getting to me and I'm uninspired? I don't know. Anyway, this particular Flashback Friday was written the week of February 18 and was never finished/posted. I'mmmaaa winnnerrr! So FLASHBACK to a month ago when you're reading this. K? Great!

Sleep deprivation has hit me hard this week. I've been stressed out, overtired and giggling at things like Paula Abdul’s face and those Charmin no residue commercials. The No Sleep Week as I've (unaffectionately) been calling it has been due to 2 things: an ungodly amount of work/stress and...SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION.

Ohhh yes, Shawshank Redemption… because some programming genius at AMC decided it would be a good idea to repeat it from 12am - 2am EVERY DAY THIS WEEK. And I have subsequently watched it from 12pm – 2am EVERY DAY THIS WEEK.

I couldn’t turn it off. Or close my eyes…let alone fall asleep…because every second of that movie is pure magic. And when I was pulled out of my Shawshank trance during commercial breaks I just laid in bed and looked up at the ceiling and said out loud: “WHY ARE THE AMC PEOPLE SO SMART? I’m so tired. I HATE YOU. I love you.”

Yes, the classic 90s movie has forever been one of my favorites, but let me just tell you- when you watch it 5 times in a row- you uncover glories you didn't even know existed. By Thursday, I had memorized every line of the last hour of the movie. I knew when every commercial break was going to happen. And because I was a sleep deprived, hormonal basket-case, I hysterically cried around 1:55am EVERY NIGHT because Red found Andy in Mexico. (For the sake of accuracy, I actually started crying when Red carves his name next to Brooks’ name in the hotel room. Stop judging me)

The point, on this glorious Flashback Friday, is: 1) I’m clearly pathetic and 2) there are some movies that you can never get enough of. Even if they’re on every single day. You’ll watch. And you’ll cry. And you’ll love them. Then you’ll be exhausted and write a rambly blog post about it? Oh wait, that’s just me.

My “I’ll watch no matter what if they’re being played on TV” movie list:

American President

Sleepless in Seattle

Clueless

Now and Then

Empire Records

Slums of Beverly Hills

That Thing You Do

Forest Gump

Mean Girls

What are yours??

Flashback Friday

Teeny: Chrissy, truth or dare?

Chrissy: Truth.

Teeny: Have you ever been french kissed?

Chrissy: Are you kidding? I don't want to get pregnant!

Yes, I'm doing a Flashback Friday on a Monday. Deal wit' it. The thing is, I was actually going to name this post RIP but I figured Flashback Friday was much less morbid.

I learned some startling news over the weekend that might shock you...

Chrissy, arguably the best character from arguably the best movie of all time, Now and Then DIED in 2007 at the age of 26 from pneumonia.

I'm traumatized.

How did Chrissy (aka Ashleigh Aston Moore) die 4 years ago and we NOT KNOW ABOUT IT??? Why weren't there tributes and memorials and facebook statuses dedicated to such a tragedy? Why didn’t we gather in the streets for massive Red Rover games while blasting the Now and Then soundtrack (which is also arguably the best in the history of soundtracks) followed by a séance in a cemetery?

WHYYYY???

Chrissy was seriously the best. Yes, I always held a special place in my heart for Teeny with her pudding filled bra and her glamorous parents and her promiscuous tendencies- it was really Chrissy that carried the movie. Even grown up Chrissy was the coolest. Remember a pregnant Rita Wilson singing I’ll Be There in the bathroom while putting on her makeup? Ah, it's so wonderful. I think my love of makeup application came from that scene right there.

She loved twinkies and faked her death and gave us some of the best lines in the movie:

EDITOR'S NOTE: I stand corrected. Leave it up to Carli Haber to point out such a blatant discrepancy in what I thought was a completely flawless memory of every second of the entire movie. Chrissy DID NOT in fact fake her death. It was obviously Roberta with her obvious death and family issues that pretended to drown and it was CHRISSY who performed CPR and (kinda-ish) starting crying when Roberta starts laughing. Reason #48295 was Chrissy was the best character.

EDITOR'S NOTE #2: While Chrissy was the best character, the best single moment of the movie was Devon Sawa's butt that could only be seen if you paused the tape at exactly the right moment and squinted. Hello every single one of my 5th grade sleepovers.

Roberta: You can't get pregnant from french-kissing!

Chrissy: I know that, beetle-brain, but it's common knowledge that if you tongue-kiss a boy, he automatically thinks you'll do the deed with him. They can't help it. They're driven.

Samantha: Oh? And what deed would that be?

Chrissy: You know... planting the seed and watering the flower. Isn't that how it works?

RIP Ashleigh Aston Moore, I'm sorry I didn't know about you sooner!

Chrissy's Mom: I decided we should talk about what you asked me.

Chrissy: About sex.

Chrissy's Mom: You say that very casually, that's very scary for mommy. It's like "BOO!" "AAH!" That's what sex is.

Flashback Friday

There is a glorious glorious blog that does Flashback Friday every single post. I've been so obsessed that I don't think I've stopped telling people about it for like a week. (Ever since Robbie posted it on his facebook....Side note: ROBBIE GOT A FACEBOOK. After an intense, passionate 5-year battle against the man, he finally realized he's an idiot and signed up. And he's already the best link-poster I know. Welcome to the decade Rob, we're so happy to have you)

ANYWAY. The blog is called the Things 90s Kids Realize. And it's a work of literary genius. No joke, I don't think I've ever connected to a person like I do the man who writes this stuff. It's like he's in my head. You have to go to it.. right now. Right this second. You have to read it.

Ok here are some of my favorites and then go read it for yourself.

My future husband explains:

Cheese & Crackers are one thing but Lunchables flipped the script on us when they created the quick fix Pizzas — kids went ape-shit. I remember reveling in glory over the fact that I was actually constructing my own delicious, mini pizza. If you were one of the crafty kids you would do sauce on top of the cheese and pepperoni or make a sandwich out of it. Recently I bought one to see if it created the same fireworks as it had in years past and let me say, it’s still pretty damn phenomenal. That being said, “Pizza Lunchables” taste NOTHING like “actual pizza”… Or does “actual pizza” taste nothing like” Pizza Lunchables”? Hmmm, talk about food for thought

Understatement of the century. I ate cereal 3 times a day for about 15 years. I'm not kidding.

I mean, seriously, anytime I can talk to someone about nickelodeon tv shows of my past, I'm a happy girl. Are You Afraid of the Dark did scare me- do you know what scared me more? Zeek the Plumber from Salute Your Shorts. I was at Girl Scout Camp when I was like 9 and I remember hysterically crying myself to sleep because I thought Zeek the Plumber with his missing nose was going to attack me in the woods where I was sleeping.

So the very very very best part of this dude's blog are the fake facebook status' he makes. Here's my favorite. There's a Full House one that is unbelievable.

Ok ready for it?

I want to marry the man who writes this stuff. He's probably 300lbs, addicted to World of Warcraft and hasn't left his apartment for 2 years. But with an appreciation for the 90s like he has, I think I might let those things fly.

Flashback Friday

I thank Betsy Wilinsky for giving me many things in life. A mother's undying love and devotion, fierce party planning skills, compassion for others, an amazing margarita recipe and above all else...she gave me Wilson Phillips.

And for that, I thank you.

Flashback Friday

I don't think there has been a Flashback Friday that has warmed my heart as deeply as the following post.

2 words for you: Lisa. Frank.

Bam! Childhood! Bam Bam!

Folders, pencil erasers, TRAPPER KEEPERS, backpacks. I credit Ms. Frank for my love of all things jewel-toned and glittery and for that...I am eternally grateful.

I KNOW. JUST STOP. IT'S TOO MUCH. Remember these stickers? Yup, I do too. I specifically remember putting the melting pizza slice on a mirror of my little brother's and I put the hot dog on a pencil box I had.

Then I probably painted his fingernails and played with my hamster, Nelly (who, unfortunately, met her untimely death after she ate her way out of her plastic cage while we were on a trip to Disney World and ended up 3 floors away in the basement...dead and surrounded by VHS tapes. (Ya..I have no idea either but I'll save that story and other theories on pet afterlife for another time).

And the grand finale....

Because nothing screamed "I'm in 3rd grade and love my life" more than twin, rainbow-spotted, artist, Dalmatians.

Flashback Friday

This is kind of Flashback and kind of not all at the same time. Liz and I were just talking about this recently- no matter what, we'll never get sick of Postal Service nor will their songs ever feel old or dated or overplayed.

I remember listening to them for the first time in Sarah King's basement in high school (Whitney remember she did that falling through the floor thing on the last track? It was crazy). I continued to love them in college and I continue to love them today. Without fail, I turn the album on every single time I get onto an airplane. They truly are Flashback and current all rolled into one. PS- I definitely have never known that they made music videos to these songs, did you?