Too Cool

A Confession

I've started listening to my Christmas music.

There. I said it.

It's November 14. A good week before Thanksgiving but I don't care. I usually try to wait but I don't want to. I love Christmas. It's my favorite time of year by about a mile and Christmas music makes me happy.

So there.

Don't judge me.

Starbucks Song of the Day

Starbucks Song of the Day
Originally uploaded by SarahorNicholas.

So remember how a couple posts ago I told ya'll about my love of completion - how I love finishing a list (or a bottle of shampoo as the case may be) or collecting all of something. Well, the only thing I might love more than that is free stuff, specifically free samples, corporate give-aways. I mean I don't want free junk. I want the good stuff.

Anyway, imagine my excitement when Starbucks announced it had teamed with iTunes to give away a free iTunes download everyday for a 5 weeks, especially when coupled with those fateful words..."collect them all." Needless to say, I was obsessed and I drove myself and whoever happened to be with me all over South Carolina, Texas, California, and DC making sure I didn't miss any.

One stupid Starbucks gave me the wrong song for one day so when that song showed up as scheduled I was thrown off. However, I think I dealt with it quite well considering I stopped myself from emailing Starbucks to complain. The other major accomplishment was that I went in Starbucks so often without spending a dime. I just got my little card and went.

The best part is they really weren't just passing out crap. I am greatly enjoying my special Song of the Day playlist and have even discovered some new artists I really enjoy. :)

There were only two songs I already had and the codes are posted below to whoever gets there first!
ytw9erel37mm
33p3jyffrlkw

Ok, listen up

I'm going to make this easy. Stop what you are doing. Stop. Right now. Got to nbc.com and watch Friday Night Lights. All of it. The whole season.

Here I'll even provide the link.

It is the sweetest, most affecting show since The West Wing. It's not the hard brilliance of The Sopranos or the political genius of Battlestar Galactica. But I laugh out loud every time and end every episode in tears. I cannot put this too strongly. This show is the most authentic, yet still entertaining portrayal of small town life I have ever seen. If you don't watch this show - you WILL watch this show.

I'll give someone else a try. From Salon, "If only more people knew what a rare and beautiful thing they're missing: a drama that sets the bar much higher than it has to, daring to take on the romance and heartbreak of being a teenager with honesty, compassion and wit. The writers don't take shortcuts with pointless fisticuffs and cliques and ironic asides; they stick to the emotional center of the story at all times. As a result, over the course of its short season (which ends on Wednesday, April 11 -- well before May sweeps, which isn't a good sign for its survival), "Friday Night Lights" has evolved from a strikingly original, lively little story about a football team to an evocative portrayal of life in a small American town, a narrative with so much sweetness and authenticity to it that, once you abandon yourself to its undeniable charms, you'll find it has the power to make you cringe and grit your teeth and laugh and cry each week, without fail."

Or how about The Sports Guy, "If you do give it a shot, let me recommend the impeccable acting, the lively football scenes (although they tend to go overboard on exciting finishes), the risky story lines and especially Coach Taylor's family, the most authentic household in recent TV history. Every nuance is nailed, every hug seems genuine, every fight makes sense, every sarcastic barb and flustered reaction ring true. If there are better TV actors than Kyle Chandler (Coach) and Connie Britton (Mrs. Coach), I haven't TiVoed them. Pay particular attention to the astonishing two-parter in which an older assistant sets off a racial powder keg before a big playoff game. If FNL were Michael Jordan, Lyla Garrity's slam-page episode would be the 63-point game in Boston (the coming-out party), and the two-parter would be the 1991 Finals (the moment considerable potential is realized)."

You don't have to know or like football. Ya'll my hatred of football is well-documented. You don't have to have grown up in a small town either. You just have to have a heart and a brain. And if you don't, you will also need protection because I will hunt each and everyone of you down if this show is canceled.

Ya'll have a great day now!

UPDATE: Oh my God! Yes, Dylan told me about this show and really let's be honest - all that growing up together, going to high school, loving me despite how I acted in high school only gets you so far. Now, NOW, that he has give me Friday Night Lights - well it's just taken our friendship to a whole new level. (And cost a ton in text messages, since about every 5 minutes it's "OMG! I love Buddy Garrity!" or "I want Tami Taylor to adopt me!")

Me and Stacey London need to have a talk

Ok, look. I like patent leather. I have two pairs of patent leather flats right now that I love. However, I am getting really sick of it being passed off as "classic." It's not classic. It is the major trend of the moment and it will go out of style. The last time I bought patent leather was for my high school holiday dance in 1995!!! So, stop. You are not fooling anyone.

New Collar

New Collar
Originally uploaded by SarahorNicholas.

We went with the blue and brown diamond. I liked it from the beginning and, when everyone was behind the diamonds, I knew we had a winner. :)

WHAT THEN!

BTW

I am now officially famous.

Sweetest Movie Ever

As many of you know, I have this sort of obsession with completing lists or actually completion in general. I even like finishing a bottle of shampoo. No joke. I don't know where it comes from, but I just love it.

So, ever since I completed the AFI Top 100 list (for the second time), I've been working on Best Picture Winners. I'd already seen pretty much everything past 1970 and most of the 1960s. There are about 20 I haven't seen so I've been slowing watching them mixed in with documentaries and more recent films so my husband doesn't kill me. ;)

Recently, I watched Marty, the Best Picture Winner for 1955. It's the story of an unlucky in love butcher, played by Ernest Borgnine, who lives with his mother. He meets a lonely schoolteacher and everything changes.

Ernest Bornine is really the key to the whole film. I felt such heartbreaking sympathy for him I was pushed to tears several times. He played Marty with such earnestness, such genuine decency that I wanted to reach through the screen and hug him. When he finally meets Clara, played by Betsy Blair, you are rooting for both of them so intensely that I almost couldn't bare it. More than I rooted for Sam and Annie in Sleepless in Seattle and even more than I rooted for (and this is big) Noah and Allie in The Notebook.

The whole movie was so precious and endearing I can't recommend it highly enough.

If you didn't think we'd have the last laugh, then you haven't been paying attention

Poll Time!

Which collar do you like best for Maggie? Keep in mind her spunky cuteness. She's not a particularly girly dog so nothing too cutesy though.

1. Diamond















2. Houndstooth















3. Bandanna

New Favorite Website

Ok, so I'm spending a lot of time at Goodwill's new online auction site. It's SO fun. Not only because I feel like there are a lot of good deals, but also because it's completely fascinating to see what's out there.

Like this.

Or this.

I highly recommend it, unless you start bidding against me. In that case, I know were you people live. Never forget that. ;)

L.A. Weekend

L.A. Weekend
Originally uploaded by SarahorNicholas.

We had a fabulous time in L.A. this weekend. We got to visit with my amazing friend Haley Goo and her new fiance Brian. They put us up Friday night and served us some awesome chocolate fondue.

On Saturday, we went on a sort of eating tour of some places I wanted to try. We had donuts at Fritelli's, which were fantastic! I'm a pretty big donut snob. I think nothing compares to Red's from Paducah, but I have to say their glazed buttermilk donut came pretty freaking close.

Then, we had authentic Mexican at Guelaguetza. I had this amazing pizza like dish, which had black bean smeared on a toasted tortilla with all these veggies. It was like nothing else I've ever had at a Mexican restaurant and really great. I also got to have one of my favorite Latin drinks - Horchata, which I haven't had since North Carolina.

That night we ate an amazing meal at Cafe Pinot near the Nokia LIVE Theater where we saw the Chicks and the Eagles. The concert was really fun. The Chicks were as entertaining as ever and I was totally impressed by the Eagles. My dad has been talking about how great they are forever and he was really right on the button. There was nothing like hearing Don Henley sing Hotel California live - I'd rate it right up there with Paul McCartney leading the entire Verizon Center in Hey Jude. :)

On Sunday, we just hung out and did some shopping, after breakfast at the Hollywood institution Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles. I didn't partake in the chicken but the waffles were yummy.

My sorority big sister met us for dinner and took us to the airport for our flight home. We had such a great time with her. She is the most amazing person, who is in LA following her dream of becoming an actress. (You Kentuckians might have seen her in a Fazoli's ad recently!) I have always been and continue to be inspired by her passion and I'm just happy for her.

So, despite the jet lag today, the great company and awesome music was totally worth the trip across the country! ;)

Deceptive and actually Delicious

Deceptive and actually Delicious
Originally uploaded by SarahorNicholas.

So we gave old Jessica Seinfeld another try and it went MUCH better this time. I made the tofu nuggets and macaroni and cheese for dinner on Thursday night and they were both really good. The nuggets had spinach puree and the mac and cheese had cauliflower puree in it. The mac and cheese, in particular, was really really good.

The next morning I made scrambled eggs also with cauliflower puree and they were delicious. I think the cauliflower puree really adds a nice texture and flavor. Big fan!

Just in case there was any confusion on who the couch actually belongs to...

Couch
Originally uploaded by SarahorNicholas.

Huh?

Now ya'll know I don't usually criticize Oprah, but I'm a little confused by today's show. The show was titled "How to be a star at work or at home" and featured Cathie Black, the CEO of Hearst Magazines. The first 1/3 of the show featured Cathie's advice on work and life. I was really impressed by her and even put her book on my amazon wishlist (for those of you who forgot to give me a law school graduation gift!) ;)

However, the rest of the show was basically a big old fashion show. At first, I was excited. I like fashion as much as the next girl and I don't think it is necessarily a frivolous topic. How you look makes a difference in work and life. Period. But the fashion just kept going and I started to think, "Wait, is this the only thing women in the work force should worry about? How we look?" I couldn't help but think if Warren Buffett or Jack Welch had been on the show they wouldn't have spent quite so much time on day-to-evening wear transitions.

Towards the end even Cathie Black looked a bit uncomfortable. I can't blame her.

Email Exchange

Me: I just bought Carrie Underwood's new album. Am memorizing the
awesomeness right now. :)

Nicholas: ohmigod

Requested Cooled Brownie Update

Nicholas said they were "better." My friend Dylan liked them. I still could only handle one bite.

I'm still holding out hope for the desserts with purees that make a little more sense - like pumpkin or sweet potato.

Wow

This lady is my hero.

Deceptively Delicious

Deceptively Delicious
Originally uploaded by SarahorNicholas.

So this should come as no surprise - what Oprah says I do. Jessica Seinfeld was on a couple of weeks ago promoting her new cookbook. Unless you've been living under a rock, you know the premise is to hide vegetables from your kids in foods they enjoy.

While I don't have kids, I decided the concept of including vegetable purees in everyday food was a good one. I've also wanted some healthier baking recipes so I decided to give it a try.

We stocked up on some purees and made the brownie recipe, which includes carrot and spinach puree. Now, she warns you not to eat them until they are completely cool - pretty much impossible right? But man she better be right about the taste of spinach disappearing because so far...yuck!

My favorite conversation with David

David
Originally uploaded by SarahorNicholas.

Me: Do you know what the White House is?
David: Yeah
Me: What is it?
David: I don't know.
Me: It's where the President lives. Do you know who the President is?
David: Yeah
Me: Who is the President?
David: I don't know.

Back from Texas

Momma and Baby
Originally uploaded by SarahorNicholas.

I am now officially home from my many travels (until next weekend when I go to L.A.). I had a wonderful time in Texas with my friend Elizabeth and her two little boys. We hung out and chatted most of the time, went out to eat, and had cake with some of her neighborhood friends. Overall, just enjoyed each other's company. :)

Three words ya'll...

Purse
Originally uploaded by SarahorNicholas.

Kate.

Spade.

Outlet.

Maybe Texas ain't so bad after all. ;)

Reality Check

To me, this is the ultimate point of the abortion debate. However you feel about abortion, I think we can all agree we want to reduce the number of abortions and the way to do that is not making it illegal.

Some much needed perspective

More and more people think they’re entitled to the right not just to ignore or disapprove, but to veto and banish.

Cupholder

Cupholder
Originally uploaded by SarahorNicholas.

Maggie enjoying some Muttlicks dog ice cream.

Happy Gotcha Day!

Maggie
Originally uploaded by SarahorNicholas.

We got Maggie four years ago. She is still one of the best decisions we've ever made and we couldn't ask for a better dog. :)

Travels

Alright, kiddos, I'm off to South Carolina for the campaign. I won't be back till next Saturday. Then, I leave on Monday for Texas to visit my good friend Elizabeth. So, posting might be sporadic so bear with me. :)

P.S. I got an extra Song of the Day code if anyone wants a Keith Urban song. It's CTLSLCRCRTXR

High Horse

Listen, I don't want to say I told ya'll so but I told ya'll so.
"Flexitarianism
Like vegetarians, "flexitarians" eat a primarily plant-based diet composed of grains, vegetables, and fruits, but they occasionally obtain protein from lean meat, fish, poultry, or dairy. A quarter of Americans fit the description, consuming meatless meals at least four days a week, according to the American Dietetic Association.
Why it's here to stay: Flexitarianism is exactly what dietitians, nutritional researchers, and public health advocates have been recommending for years. "It's about eating a varied diet that's low in saturated fat and high in fiber," says Milton Stokes, M.P.H., R.D., chief dietitian at St. Barnabas Hospital in New York City, and an ADA spokesperson. Because the emphasis is on produce rather than protein, flexitarians are more likely than most Americans to meet the recommended daily intake of fruits and vegetables and the vitamins and minerals they contain.
What it means for you: Studies show that people who follow this approach to eating generally weigh less and have lower rates of hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, and prostate and colon cancer. In one large study from Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana, researchers tracked the eating habits of more than 9,600 people over a 19-year period and found those who consumed fruits and vegetables at least three times daily lowered their risk of stroke by 42 percent, and their risk of cardiovascular disease by 27 percent."

Dove Does It Again

Amazing

Grrrr...

People who pull their cars into the crosswalk make me want to resort to violence.

Just thought ya'll should know.

I don't know if ya'll know this...

Hillary & Me
Originally uploaded by SarahorNicholas.

but I'm sort of important ;)

See...

I know this is confusing for the White House but real journalists actually set the terms for their interviews. I know this is difficult to comprehend after 7 years of kowtowing by the media but at least it's just ONE more reason to love NPR.

P.S. Don't miss that a certain Senator from NY respects journalistic integrity ;)

The Best Hillary Moment in the History of the World

Not to overstate it or anything. Russert had just asked her a hypothetical torture question. She stated that torture isn't the answer. This is what happened next.

Will Work for Blog

So I just love these interactive posts don't ya'll!?!

Well, this time I think everyone should take this quiz and then posts their scores in the comments. I got at 85% and Nicholas got an 82% but that probably shouldn't surprise anyone since I am WAY smarter than he is. ;)

P.S. I was thinking Pamela shouldn't be allowed to play because I resent her and her brain enough already, but since it doesn't involve word play at all I guess I'll let her participate.

The Best Comedy EVER!

First, let me be clear, the best comedy of all time is Designing Women. Period. However, since it wasn't on the bracket, I guess we'll be naming the second best comedy ever.

We're going to ignore Erin and Pamela with their Golden Girls and Wonder Years, because that's just silly talk. ;) Annie isn't too old because my final two were The Cosby Show and Seinfeld. The reason I excluded Arrested Development is because I think historic importance and mass appeal are incredibly important and in both categories it falls short. Like Nicholas said, without Seinfeld there would be no Arrested Developments. I think there is a solid argument that The Cosby Show is more historically important, mainly because of the barriers it broke down. I also think The Cosby Show was a bigger accomplishment because of the freshness it brought to family sitcoms and the fact that it is still funny and entertaining after all these years. BUT then again Seinfeld was completely groundbreaking and deserves so much credit because of what it made possible (Arrested Development, The Office, and of course Curb Your Enthusiasm).

So, in other words, it's a tie.

Chicago...

Chicago
Originally uploaded by SarahorNicholas.

was awesome! This is me in the reflection of the Cloud Gate at Millennium Park.

Three in a row...

Seriously...
Originally uploaded by SarahorNicholas.

We took this in a Dunkin' Donuts parking lot. I am not kidding.

Hello from Chicago!

Let's put it this way - I'm glad New Hampshire didn't work out. :)

This should be fun

Ok kiddos I just had the best idea! Everyone is going to do this and THEN post your winner in the comments section. THEN we can watch all sit back and enjoy the ensuing fisticuffs. ;)

The Boss Queen

For those of you who read The Sweet Potato Queens books, you are surely well aware of the author Jill Conner Browne's love of all things bacon. Well, I just stumbled upon this little bit of bacon memorabilia and knew she had to know about it. I just shot her a quick email through the Contact Us link on her website yesterday, not expecting much from it.

But ya'll she totally wrote me back!

"BWAHAHAHAHA! Thanks so much for thinking of me, hunny! I was tempted to order it until I read that it resembled a LEANER cut of bacon--because, of course, I prefer the FATTEST I can find!

Be Particular--jillconnerbrowneTHEsweetpotatoqueen"



P.S. - For those of you who DON'T read The Sweet Potato Queens, take your sorry butt down to the bookstore and pick up a copy real quick like. There are six different books to chose from (and by chose I mean which order to read not which one to buy!) ;)

Liveblogging the VMAs

9:00 - Britney, oh god I'm scared...
9:03 - Well, she didn't fall off the stage. So that's good - but she seemed so half-ass. I don't even know why she bothered lip-synching. Anyway, she survived but it wasn't Britney's comeback.
9:05 - Sending Sarah Silverman out next? This is not going to be good for her.
9:07 - Ok, wrap it up Sarah. I'm getting bored.
9:08 - "Jews are like snowflakes" Ha! Who's the live band?
9:09 - NO RERUNS!?! What?!? They should have made that more clear beforehand.
9:10 - I want to go to JT's party!
9:11 - Hey that chick from Pussycat Dolls stole Amy Winehouse's hair.
9:12 - Holy crap how many nominees are THERE!?! I don't like that Umbrella song, but you know what I do like? Rihanna's dress - she looks like Barbie :)
9:15 - It's officially times for someone to explain those glasses everyone at Kanye's party is wearing. I don't get it.
9:22 - I knew this text thing was too complicated. I voted for the wrong one. Damn! I think that officially makes me too old for this.
9:23 - They texted me back the opportunity to buy Britney ringtones. No thanks.
9:24 - I really hate the way they are presenting the nominees. Although the winner is clear: Justin Timberlake! ... THAT'S RIGHT! Look how cute he is! I think he's drunk. Still cute but drunk.
9:25 - These little mini-party/performances are lame. I want big stage productions. I don't feel like I'm there. I feel bored.
9:27 - God I wish I was watching The Hills instead.
9:33 - Oh!!! Kanye and 50 on one stage. What could happen!?! I'm guessing awkward jokes and stares.
9:34 - Again, the winner is clearly Justin Timberlake...WHAT!?! Beyonce and Shakira over Sexy Back. Are you freaking kidding me?!? At least, I was wrong about the Kanye/50 awkward jokes.
9:35 - Holy mama! I think her boobs might fall out. She seems one tuck away from disaster.
9:36 - Adam Levine is sexy. I wish he wasn't wearing a vest but he's still sexy.
9:37 - Jeez another commercial.
9:41 - Nipple alert!
9:42 - False alarm - they were pasties.
9:43 - A real performance. Thank God.
9:44 - Chris Brown?!? Really? I do love those little kids he dances with. They're amazing.
9:45 - Something tells me the Charlie Chaplin reference is going to be lost on this crowd. The dancing on the tables is kind of cool though, wouldn't want to be the ones they were jumping over but still.
9:46 - Someone actually singing - that's a nice change.
9:47 - Ok Billy Jean. I can get down with this and he really can dance.
9:56 - WHAT no Heidi! LOL! If JT doesn't win, I'm going to throw something.
9:57 - YEAH!!!! He is the hottest. Seriously, hot. I lose my language skills, all I can say is hot. See - mumbling, not making sense, still hot! It's like magic.
10:00 - The lead singer of Gnarls Barkley is really fat. Just sayin.
10:04 - When is the pole dancing going to be over? I'm so over it.
10:05 - Timbaland has some serious guns.
10:06 - The only thing lamer than Shia Labeouf's mustache is his name.
10:07 - The winner is Amy Winehouse. Come on! .... FERGIE! Seriously! - Actually who am I kidding? I have Glamourous as a ringtone. I can't lie.
10:08 - I thought Pamela had her boobs taken out. They don't look any smaller. Also, I think Nicholas has bowed out for the evening. He's disappeared.
10:10 - Oh that helicopter shot is cool.
10:13 - I'm all over Pageant Place. Believe that.
10:19 - A place we've never been before? We'll see.
10:21 - I've been here before. Fog and lazors? It was called Stone Mountain.
10:24 - I love the White Stripes. I hope they win ... Fall Out Boy - right, why am I still watching?
10:34 - I like Alicia but I'm not feeling this.
10:36 - Don't drag Stevie into this! Oh hell no! I know she's not dragging my favorite song of ALL TIME into this. Please god, leave it alone. I'm begging you.
10:37 - Stop it. Stop it now. Before I beat you with your sparkly boots.
10:44 - Pudgy pale guy taking his clothes off would definitely NOT be a good time.
10:45 - Tommy Lee and Kid Rock fought?!? Now that would have been worth seeing!
10:46 - Someone save Jennifer Garner. Quickly.
10:47 - You've got to be freaking kidding me. Amy Winehouse is hands down the most creative, real thing to come out of the music industry in like years. I know she's a hot mess but she's still crazy talented.
10:48 - Miss Teen South Carolina!!! ha! Props to the girl for showing her face.
10:55 - Mary J. Someone with talent.
10:56 - Dr. Dre, even more talent. Maybe he can save this sinking ship.
10:59 - Great the song I don't really like beat out two songs that I loved. With that I think it's time to call it a night.

Thanks for nothing MTV. I thought after the Movie Awards this might be decent. I was wrong.

11:05 - JUST KIDDING! More JT. I'm still here. And I love Nelly.
11:06 - Now this is more like it. I really like the Vegas showgirl feather send up.
11:07 - Seriously, Timbaland is like RAMBO. I can't get over his massive arms.
11:08 - Justin!!! Hot. Hot. Hot. Love the disco ball. Watch him move.
11:10 - I love the three of them together. See now, these last five minutes have been awesome. Too bad the rest of it sucked.

Intolerance

D.W. Griffith's 1916 silent behemoth Intolerance was a response to criticism of his previous film Birth of a Nation and its racist overtones. Griffith set out to tell the story of "how hatred and intolerance, through all the ages, have battled against love and charity" through four different mini-plays: The "Modern" Story, The Judean Story, The French Story, and The Babylonian Story.

The sheer scale of Griffith's film-making is incredibly impressive. He basically built a full-scale city of Babylon on the corner of Sunset and Hollywood Boulevard that is the inspiration for the gates of the new Hollywood Highland Center. You can also see the influence of this film in any epic battle scene from Lord of the Rings to Braveheart.

However, much like Birth of a Nation, his heavy-handed moral tone seems dated and ignorant, apparently audiences of the time agreed and Intolerance was a huge flop. Its historical importance might be that it was the first massive spending spree by a self-important director that turned into a tank at the box office (think Ishtar, Waterworld, Battlefield Earth). Either way I'm not really sure why Birth of a Nation was removed from the list and this was added.

Tubing at Harpers Ferry

Tubing at Harpers Ferry
Originally uploaded by SarahorNicholas.

After much cajoling and a successful bid on priceline.com, I convinced Nicholas to take a tubing trip down the Potomac as a last goodbye to summer. We set out on Saturday morning, after a quick trip to Target for water shoes (that's right I now officially own Crocs!), and arrived at Butt's Tubing - really that's the name - at around noon.

The shuttle bus driver dropped us up the Potomac, after dire warnings not to go past the green bridge if we wanted to be picked up because he "could not help us." We parked our butts in our butts tubes and started floating. The trip was really nice - flat and lazy in parts with just enough rapids to make it interesting. I even got tipped over once. However, the water was only about three feet deep so it was always easy to get back on course.

I was covered up in my standard all-day-in-the-water attire: long sleeved black t-shirt and black swim trunks. I still got a little red on the top of my knees but nothing too bad. Nicholas, however, applied Neutrogena spray sunblock that had lost some of its aerosol and kind of splattered all over. He ended up with a very weird splotchy sunburn.

Despite the sunburns, we had a really wonderful day floating down the river and can't wait to go again.

Dirty Dancing UK - Julia and James First Dance

Nicholas should wake up every morning and thank God I didn't think of this.

Air-adding

So, here's the thing. I like Mary Louise Parker. I liked her in Fried Green Tomatoes. I LOVED her on The West Wing and I watch Weeds religiously. She's smart. She's sexy. She's funny. You know what she's not? Voluptuous.

Mary Louise Parker is a skinny bitch. Nothing against skinny bitches - I've made friends with some recently and they're not that bad. And, in all fairness, she hasn't always been a skinny bitch. Remember when she thanked her newborn son for her bodacious breastfeeding boobs at the Golden Globe in 2004? But now? Now, she's a skinny bitch.

That's why I find the above picture so angering. It's one thing to airbrush out fat. But to add it back in! That's just not fair. If us normal size girls have anything, it's our curves. There's something to be said for a little extra padding. Marylin Monroe had padding. So does J-Lo and Beyonce. However, you take away a little of our pride, our specialness when you can just give Kate Moss a Queen Latifah makeover. Not cool.

Seriously, not cool.

Ah ha Moment

I have a friend at work. Let's call him Matt because that's his name. Matt and I spend a lot of time talking about relationships. In particular, I spend a lot of time trying to convince him it's not near as complicated as he's making it. Today he had a breakthrough:

"So, maybe girls aren't crazy. They just think differently."

God bless him, it only took him 24 years.

Labor Day Weekend
Originally uploaded by SarahorNicholas.

We had a fabulous weekend in Atlanta for the first annual Holland*Con. All the Holland siblings were there, along with Lynn's sister Pam and her son Josh and his family. Needless to say, it was a wild weekend. I got there on Thursday and hung out with the babies. We also made a Dairy Queen run where the above picture was taken.

On Friday we did some eating and some shopping. I had told my sister-in-law Jenn that for my last 10 trips to Atlanta I'd only eaten at The Varsity and Athens Pizza. She made it her personal mission to change that and I'd say she did a pretty dang good job. Over the course of weekend, I tried Taqueria Del Sol, Crescent Moon, Brick Store, and Canoe and engaged in some chocolate decadence at Fritti and The Chocolate Bar.

Nicholas arrived late Friday night and we awoke early on Friday morning for a trip to the new Georgia Aquarium. It was pretty amazing, although the babies largely lost interest after about 15 minutes. We had big family dinners on Saturday to celebrate Elizabeth's first birthday and Sunday night for the Holland*Con family portrait. A grand time was had by all, especially the kids who all ate more sugar, watched more TV, and stayed up later then they would have normally been allowed.

Of course, I have a little baby hangover - known better as a cold you get from the little petri dishes - but it was worth it. We had a great time with all the family and it was over way too soon.

POLL TIME!!!

I've got about 20 free downloads from that new emusic.com website and I'm sending out an APB for music suggestions.

Any CD that you couldn't stop listening to recently? A new artist that you're smitten with? Let me know in the comments!

Sullivan's Travels

Charming comedy about John L. Sullivan a successful comedic director ready to take more serious turn. When his bosses inform he's never experienced any suffering that could inform a more dramatic turn, he sets on the road as a hobo...hilarity ensues.

Overall, I thought the film was very cute and entertaining. I'm not sure if it is any better or worse then some of the comedies that got kicked off - African Queen comes to mind. Again, the mere fact that is remains cute and entertaining almost 70 years ago is a testament but I'm beginning to realize that the movie industry loves nothing more than a movie about itself and that might be the real secret to this movie's critical acclaim.

Tuesday: Barbefu

Tuesday: Barbefu
Originally uploaded by SarahorNicholas.

Monday: Tacos

Monday: Tacos
Originally uploaded by SarahorNicholas.

Saturday: scallops and spinach fettuccine with red bell pepper cream sauce
Originally uploaded by SarahorNicholas.

The past few weeks have been crazy so Nicholas and I really enjoyed our nice weekend. On Friday, we went on our first date night in several weeks. We had a great dinner at Palena Cafe and went to see The Nanny Diaries. Despite the mediocre reviews, I felt required to see it because I'd read the book. Unfortunately, the reviews were correct, although Laura Linney was really great.

We had our friends Chris and Alice over for dinner on Saturday night. Chris and I were Moot Court partners this year and we both brought our significant others to the competition in Colonial Williamsburg. Needless to say, hanging out together was the highlight of our trip. So, we had them over for a little post-bar dinner for scallops and spinach fettuccine with red bell pepper cream sauce (recipe linked). Nicholas really outdid himself with this one. However, Chris and Alice were most excited about being featured on the blog. So, everyone wave to Chris and Alice! ;)

Sunday was for shopping. We went to C-Mart to get Nicholas some new shoes. Then drove all the way to Potomac Mills so I could finally see Sarah Jessica Parker's new clothing line. I bought a couple of cute things and was pretty impressed overall. We also stopped by my friend Guinevere's house where she was having her own little clothing sale and I got some great new work clothes.

The reason we had a car to drive all over God's creation to go shopping was we rented one to go see the Indigo Girls at Wolf Trap last night. This is my sixth time seeing them (counting performances at marches and on the Hill) and they never disappoint. This was our first time sitting on the lawn at Wolf Trap and it was really nice. We were a little late and had to squeeze in between a couple of other people. Nicholas was cursing me under his breath for being late, but then my stellar luck kicked in and we got a big patch of lawn after people went to their actual seats at the beginning of the concert. :)

I can NOT stop listening to this song

Cat Power – The Greatest

!!!!

Holy Ginger, Batman!!!

Little Rock, AR
Originally uploaded by SarahorNicholas.

Last week I traveled to Little Rock, AR, to work on the campaign's advance team. The team was preparing for the Senator's trip to Little Rock this past Monday. I was only a trainee, but it was a great experience. One I hope to replicate, which is why I won't be blogging in great detail about it. ;)

The best part of the trip was Mom and Mema drove down from Paducah to hang out in Little Rock with me over the weekend. We got VIP tours fo the Clinton Library and had birthday cake in celebration of the President's birthday, which was Sunday. We also went over to Central High School to learn about the desegregation battle there in the late 1950's. Pretty fascinating stuff I have to say. We had a great couple of days together and I'm so glad they were able to drive down.

What is the What

I just finished Dave Eggers's brilliant novel What is the What, based on the story of one of the Lost Boys of Sudan, Valentino Achak Deng. While the book came highly recommended from Nicholas and my good friend Dylan, I was afraid I wouldn't be able to connect to the story and might not finish it. I looked only at the surface and thought I could not relate to the story of an African male escaping genocide. This was not the only preconceived notion this book blew right open.

Now, after finishing the book, I've realized I was more afraid of connecting with the book then anything else. It is not an easy story to hear - the murder, the deprivation, the invisibility - and I think on some level I was really scared to hear it, scared of feeling helpless in the face of it. However, Eggers did a really brilliant thing by beginning the book with Valentino already in America. While his problems don't disappear once he's on American soil, as becomes abundantly clear in the first couple of pages, on some level you know he survived - you know he made it out of Sudan.

Of course, another perception the book destroyed is that escaping Sudan was the only goal for most refugees. Whatever the circumstance, home is home and it holds a powerful pull for all the characters in the book. The book not only shifted my perception of Sudan but also my perception of the refugee camps so many Sundanese live in to this day. The book makes clear that these are not temporary camps but permanent settlements where people live out their lives. It's not surprising I suppose but distressing all the same.

The book not only shifted my perceptions of the places in a refugees life but the refugees themselves. Either because of my own prejudices or what I believe would be my own reaction to the situation - I expected the Sundanese refugees, including Valentino, to be more than willing to ask for and accept help and aid where ever they could. But, of course, this was not the case. Just like any other group of people - some were embarrassed to ask for help, while others were willing to exploit it.

I suppose this was the ultimate lesson of the book. By telling Valentino's story with such honesty Eggers does an excellent job of illustrating that, despite everything, the Lost Boys are just human beings. Human beings put through an extraordinary situation - some survived, some didn't, some thrived, some didn't. But at the end of the day, they are just like us and we have a larger connection then I expected.

WHAT THEN!?!?!

Much better...

Thanks to all of you who reached out to me after my down in the dumps "Confession" posting a week ago. I can't tell you how much it means to me to have such an incredible support group of people who love me so unconditionally. It felt so good to hear your words of encouragement and, not surprisingly, your reassurances that things would eventually change were true. Almost a week after I wrote that post a really exciting opportunity opened up at the campaign and I am currently out on the road. I promise to post all of the details when I get home on Tuesday. :)

Mindblowing

Every time you think this administration can't possibly be more ridiculous...

The Return

It is so WRONG how much joy I get from The Hills. I mean this show is just too wonderful. Their clothes, their jobs, their apartments. Yet, beyond all that, the same struggles we all face. Career insecurity, psychopath boyfriends, cat fights! I mean MTV has really raised the editing hear to an art form.

But what I love the most are the little pearls of wisdom that manage to escape their mouths. Lauren - "I think every girl wants to be that girl - the girl he changes for."

Whew! - truer words were never said.

Holy crap!

This dude cut his iPod in half!

The General

This film was amazing. Most of the oldest films on the list are interesting only because of what they contributed. They don't really entertain on their own. They are only interesting for their historical importance.
However, this film was both - interesting for it's historical importance AND entertaining in its own right. Buster Keaton is amazing. It's amazing how much humor he portrays with no sound. The most impressive part is not his face but the stunts. The whole time I kept thinking, "He did this with no stunt man! No CGI!" Actually now that I think about, maybe it's historically important because it's still entertaining.

Thursday: Rolling Lettuce Tofu

Thursday: Rolling Lettuce Tofu
Originally uploaded by SarahorNicholas.

Monday: Gnocchi in Pesto with Tomatoes

Monday: Gnocchi in Pesto with Tomatoes
Originally uploaded by SarahorNicholas.

Confession

So here it is...

My one major flaw...

What keeps my from the perfection of personality we all strive for (and my mother claims she's achieved)...

I suck at transitions. S-U-C-K. I can't handle it. They transform me from a strong, confident woman into a big ole weepy ball of confusion. And it happens every stinkin time.

You'd think I'd be better at it by now. I mean I've spent almost my entire life as a student, where transition is the name of the game. But no.

Now, for example, I am interning at Hillaryland and trying desperately to find a job. And frankly, it's not going so well. I try to tell give myself little pep talks. "I am employable. I will not work for free forever." I ask myself, "What would Oprah say?" And I know what Oprah would say. She'd probably have Dr. Robin give me a good dose of "get over yourself" - followed up by a solid helping of "get going."

My logical self knows all that. However, my illogical self worries that I'll never get a job, that I've messed up my life, or (the scariest one of all) that this "transition" will never transition and that I'll be stuck here forever.

Big Surprise

You Are 96% Feminist

You are a total feminist. This doesn't mean you're a man hater (in fact, you may be a man). You just think that men and women should be treated equally. It's a simple idea but somehow complicated for the world to put into action.

Are You a Feminist?

It's a cruel, cruel summer...

Seriously, this heat is oppressive!

If at first you don't succeed...

Bookmark v.2
Originally uploaded by SarahorNicholas.

knit knack

Bookmark
Originally uploaded by SarahorNicholas.

Please let me first say that I realize this is the ugliest bookmark in the history of bookmarks - but ya'll I MADE it! I learned to knit and then I knitted this with my own - very clumsy - two hands. Also, I would like to clarify that knitting is not anywhere near as easy as it looks. I was so frustrated I almost quit several times but after searching down a couple of web videos I finally got the hang of it - well, sort of...

Sunday: Perfectly Grilled Corn with Chipotle Mayonnaise, Cotija Cheese & Lime

Sunday: Perfectly Grilled Corn with Chipotle Mayonnaise, Cotija Cheese & Lime
Originally uploaded by SarahorNicholas.

I saw Bobby Flay make this corn on CBS Sunday Morning almost a month ago and I've been obsessed with it every since. I've been begging Nicholas to make it forever and he finally caved after we picked up corn at the beach last weekend and can I just say - YUM!

Thursday: Pasta with Marinated Tomatoes and Mozzarella

Thursday: Pasta with Marinated Tomatoes and Mozzarella
Originally uploaded by SarahorNicholas.

Birth

Birth: A Surprising History of How We Are Born should really be titled Birth: An Infuriating History of How We Are Born. Chapter after chapter author Tina Cassidy chronicles the way in which laboring women have been mistreated, ignored, experimented on, and even killed. What makes the history even more enraging is that most often the people doing the maiming, torturing, or whatever were there to "help." Most often those there to help were male doctors trying to take that care away from female midwives - and doing a large amount of damage in the process.

Here's one of my favorite examples, where Cassidy quotes a mid-nieteenth century doctor complaining about the midwife and women helpers who were still present at the birth, even if they were forced to call in a doctor.
"Nothing is more common than for the patient's friends to object to [bloodletting], urging as a reason, that 'she has lost enough blood.' Of this they are in no respect suitable judges."

And if they weren't blaming the women in the room, they were blaming the actual laboring mother:
When doctors were spreading infection in the late 1700's before sanitary practices, the "blamed the mother for creating her own infection...a woman, upset because her husband was abroad she went into labor at the Rotunda, became infected. The head of the hospital blamed her fretting."

The entire time I was reading about how doctors intimidated women and bullied them out of their own better instincts I couldn't help but think of a recent conversation with my aunt. I mentioned that I was interested in a home birth with a midwife and she told me that her female OB-GYN had told her she gets so upset when she sees "smart, educated women doing something stupid like having their baby at home."

So, let's settle this once and for all:
- "In America, those women attended by midwives ultimately have lower cesarean rates, fewer interventions such as labor induction and episiotomies, and lower infant mortality, than those attended by doctors."

- "Deliveries at home and in birth centers have been statistically proven to be as safe as those in hospitals, where, not incidentally, one's chance of having a cesarean soar just because you walk through the door."

- "One study has shown that epidurals increase the likelihood of the baby presenting in the posterior position - in other words, not fully rotated. Such a presentation does lead to higher cesarean rates."

You're not a dumb hippie because you want to have natural childbirth, even in your own home, and I just wish in 2007 most people understood that. It's not the answer for everyone - but if I learned anything from this books, it's that every woman should have the right to figure out that answer for herself.

Life Made Easy

People always say life should come with an owner's manual...Well I have to say this blog post might come pretty close.

The Bourne Ultimatum

We just saw it. There are a lot of great reviews out there, so I'm not sure I can add much except to say ...

"Y'know, I always thought that Matt Damon was like a Streisand, but he's rocking the shit in this one!"

Queen for a Day

One of my LexisNexis purchases (see below) was a book called No One Cares What You Had for Lunch: 100 Ideas for your blog. I thought it might be interesting to expand the subject area of this blog beyond food, travel, and how cute Maggie is. The author's first idea is what you would change about the world if you were Queen for a Day?

And can I just say - I've been waiting a LONG time for someone to ask me that question. ;)

First, people would stop chewing their fingernails in public...scratch that, people would stop chewing their fingernails period. You know why? Because it's disgusting. It's disgusting to do and it is certainly disgusting to watch. I hate watching someone stick their nasty fingers in their mouth then shove it in either further because clearly they've already chewed that nail down to almost nothing. YUCK!

Second, people would stop bossing other grown-ass adults on the metro. Look, mass transit can get ugly and sometimes people don't act like the upright walking homosapiens they are and that sucks. However, you screaming at people to "Walk faster - people are trying to get on!" or "People would do well to remember their bags are an extension of themselves!" is NOT HELPING ANYTHING.

Third, men would stop with the street harassment. I'm glad you think I have a fine ass. Really I am - I'll be able to look myself in the mirror now that you have officially solved all my insecurities. But just the same - keep it to your dang self. It's insulting and scary and just plain rude.

Also, if I was queen for day, everyone would wear lovely, flattering clothes and the planet would be stricken of capri pants, ill-fitting bras, and graphic T's. I would never have to wait in line and it would be Free for the Queen day at Nordstrom and Cityzen. Oh and Oprah would be my Lady in Waiting! ;)

Don't Break the Chain

Over the weekend Nicholas and I stopped at our favorite crab shack in Rehoboth called Lazy Susan's. Sitting next to us were two couples engaging in lively conversation. Once this conversation turned to Harry Potter, I couldn't help but interject. Well, over the course of dinner, we talked about a lot of other thing, including my favorite subject - politics. The woman sitting next to me was particularly interested in my work for Hillary and how I felt about her. I told her all about how great Hillary was in person and how she totally inspired me. She told me about how she had voted for George Bush two times and how she was becoming increasingly disturbed by him and the Republican party. At the end of dinner, she asked for my email address and I gave it her, not expecting much from it. However, today I got this email.

Sarah,
Thanks for the inspiration .. I added my name to the Hilary e-mail list and changed my voter registration from independent to democrat.
It was nice to meet you .. it was so refereshing to listen to the voice of our youth.
Have a great day,
Deb

So, that's pretty awesome. I guess engaging in "pointless" political discussions isn't always pointless. :)

Sunrise

Silent films were never my favorite when going through the list the first time. I found them long and a bit tedious. However, this film was really engaging and beautifully done. I can't help but think talking might actually have sullied it up a bit. The director F.W. Murnau was a leading German Expressionism and that style, the distorted images, the symbolism, were so apparent in the film. What I thought was so really interesting is how it really seemed like a fairy tale come to life, like the film industry was exploring what types of stories to tell. I'd highly recommend it, especially if you're interested in early film.

Birthday at the Beach

Rehoboth Beach 2007
Originally uploaded by SarahorNicholas.

Nicholas and I spent the weekend in Delaware at Rehoboth Beach, our favorite summer getaway. We had an absolutely fabulous time and I had a near perfect birthday. We drove down Friday night and had fish and chips on the boardwalk. On my birthday, we spent at the beach until a thunderstorm rained us out at which point we headed to the arcade. We ate an unseemly amount of seafood at our favorite local crab shack and birthday cake and champagne in our room. On Sunday, we took one last stroll on the beach before heading to the outlet, where Nicholas injected some much needed new blood into his wardrobe.
I think more than anything I just enjoyed hanging out with my husband. As we left town, he realized he'd been at work everyday since July 5th. And as we had more and more fun together, I realized how much I'd really missed him. So, not to lay on the sap, but getting to spend such quality time with my favorite person was probably the best birthday present of all. :)

They say it's your birthday...

It's my birthday too!

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

****SPOILER ALERT**** I've warned you people and gave you a week's notice so here it goes!



I started reading Harry Potter in 2001. My dear friend Annie was having a party for the first movie and you couldn't come to the party unless you had read the book. About 5 pages in I was hooked and I've been desperately in love with J.K. Rowling's wizarding wonderland ever since. I literally love everything about the books. The characters, the settings, the themes of choice and courage. I just love it. I've been pushed to tears by her books. I've laughed out loud. And at the end of Goblet of Fire, I sat in my room in broad daylight scared out of my freaking mind.

So, it was incredibly bittersweet to reach the end of the series. But, oh wow, what an ending it was.

Not surprisingly, I absolutely adored Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Again, I went through the whole spectrum of emotions. I laughed out loud ("Pathetic! With the whole wide world of ear-related humor before you, you go for holey?"). I cried...ok, let's be honest, I wept. (DOBBY!) And, for a majority of the book, I was on the edge-of-my -seat, scared out of my mind!

What I didn't expect was to be surprised. I thought Rowling would spend this final book answering our questions and tying everything up. And she did, but in ways I never expected. I think the tying in of Dumbledore's past was nothing short of genius. Like Harry, a part of me just assumed Dumbledore sprung forth full-formed. I never thought about why he was so powerful, although a part of me always wondered why he couldn't defeat Voldemort. The way his past became such an integral part of Harry and Voldemort's story was amazing to me and probably my favorite part of this book. While I had never questioned it before, it makes so much sense that the three most powerful wizards in the book, Harry, Voldemort, and Dumbledore, would be intertwined and that for Harry to fully come into his own power before he defeats Voldemort, he would need to understand why he was uniquely suited for the role (beyond the mere accident of birth) and Dumbledore wasn't. What struck me even more by the end of the book, I believed that Harry was a more powerful wizard by the end - which in some ways I wasn't expecting.

Of course the road there wasn't easy and the deaths in the book were also surprising. There was a part of me that fully expected for one of the three friends to die. I heard an interview with Rowling where she expressed pride that people really felt no one was off the table and I guess she's right. The book felt more real and intense because I truly expected Harry, Ron or Hermoine to die, especially after Hedwig died in the first 50 pages of the book. I felt like she was telling me very clearly that no one was off limits. Now, the fact that the main three were spared did not make any of the other deaths any easier. I was particularly devastated by Hedwig and Dobby. These two creatures were caught up in a war they had no part in creating and their unconditional devotion to Harry made their deaths that much harder. Of course, as a big sister to twin brothers, Fred's death was almost unbearable. It truly makes me wonder if Rowling is close to any twins in her life because part of me thinks if she was then she would have known one without the other is completely unimaginable.

Now, there were some deaths that were significantly less upsetting. Like, I don't know...Bellatrix the Bitch. The killing of Bellatrix, the ultimate representation of murder and complete lack of empathy, by Molly Weasley, the ultimate representation of life and compassion, was awesome! Again, not what I saw coming but the only conceivable option once it happened. Of course there were a thousand other brilliant moments where some of my favorite characters got their moment to shine - almost all at the Battle of Hogwarts (which is the sole reason I am counting until the days the 7th movie) - Neville pulling the sword from the sorting hat to slay Nagini, Minerva ordering the armor to do their duty and defend the school, Trelawny throwing crystal balls at Deatheaters, the list goes on and on.

Of course the ultimate shining moment was the ending - Harry faces death courageously and comes out on the other side. I thought the ending was inspiring and perfect. I thought the ultimate battle between Harry and Voldemort being fought in the Great Hall of Hogwarts for all eyes to witness was brilliant and I felt completely fulfilled with not the slightest dash of disappointment. My absolute only complaint was that the epilogue featuring Harry and his family 19 years later did not reveal his career. However, Rowling has recently revealed he is an auror, so my only remaining question was answered. And otherwise I really loved the ending with him sending his beloved children off to his first loving home and the beginning of his journey - Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

I'm so sad it's over, but I can at least look forward to the next two movies...that and introducing my own children to the enchanting and endearing world of Harry Potter. :)

Happy Birthday Early!

Ultimate Rewards Points
Originally uploaded by SarahorNicholas.

My birthday came a bit early courtesy of Lexis Nexis! All through law school I was obsessed with the Lexis Nexis rewards points they handed out for trainings or regular visits to lexisnexis.com. So obsessed that by the time I graduated almost 30,000 points. To give you some perspective, most of my friends had around 1,000.

So, last week I cashed in my points on their amazon.com website and got:
- a digital picture frame
- scanner
- card reader
- several books
- a cupcake carrier
- $10 iTunes gift card

The majority of the shipment came today and I've been playing with my digital picture frame all night.

Thanks Lexis!

Wednesday: Tortilla Soup

Wednesday: Tortilla Soup
Originally uploaded by SarahorNicholas.

Harry Potter

Harry Potter Release Party
Originally uploaded by SarahorNicholas.

Ok, so all you peeps have till Friday to read the book because I REALLY want to post about the book! Consider this your warning ;)

Saturday: Neopolitan Ice Cream Cake

Saturday: Neopolitan Ice Cream Cake
Originally uploaded by SarahorNicholas.

I made this for our good friend Jennifer and David, who were in town visiting from North Carolina. It was chocolate angel food layered with strawberry and vanilla ice cream and it's dang good if I do say so myself.

Swing Time

Despite my self-professed passion for dancing flicks, I had never actually seen a Fred and Ginger movie and - oh man! - was I missing out. It is like they are connected by invisible strings, moving constantly in sync.
More importantly, what makes them standout against all the ballroom I've ever seen, is the seeming absence of effort. Sometimes I watch ballroom dancers, particularly the hardcore professionals, and it seems like every muscle in their body is tense. But F&G just glide and twirl and dip as if the movements are more natural than walking. It is stunning.
What surprised me even more (besides the blackface number no one mentions) is what good actors they both were. They were funny and charming and their chemistry was amazing. I won't lie and say the rest of the movie was genius - it's still all about the dance numbers. However, overall it was really entertaining and now I really want to see more F&G flicks.

Mama Maggie

While at home in Paducah last month, I did interviews with my great-grandmother Maggie Stewart and my grandmother Nancy Stewart. I've finished editing the interview with Mama Maggie - complete with family photos and music. It will of course be more interesting to the Stewart's on the blog but I think the life of any 95 year old is interesting whether you are related to her or not. You should at least watch till she talks about her mother and her ability to "bless you down." ;)



Mama Maggie from hollandnm and Vimeo.

I finished Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

Congressional Working Moms

This article is AMAZING!

Big Love

I've got one word for why this season of Big Love rocks my pants off....

MARGENE!

Screen on the Green

Screen on the Green
Originally uploaded by SarahorNicholas.

Last night Nicholas and I went to the opening night of Screen on the Green. They opened with Annie Hall, which was a big hit and really fun to see with an audience.

We packed a picnic which (I hope ya'll are sitting down for this) I COOKED and prepared. That's right I chopped, cooked, and generally prepared eggplant pasta salad AND I baked peanut butter cup brownies for dessert. Then I packed it all up with bread, cheese, and fruit that I bought at the grocery store ALL BY MYSELF.

Are you impressed yet? You should be. It's all part of my campaign to remain a well-pampered housewife and convince my husband I can put my legal skills, such as analysis and research, to good use without actually getting a paying job. ;)