Why my husband is the best

Even though Jim and I are 7,000 miles apart, he still manages to make me feel special and loved.

Here are my Christmas presents:

I have been wanting an Army sweatshirt since May! I didn’t buy one in SC because it was too hot and I couldn’t find on in Pensacola because the majority of Military there were Sailors and Marines.

Jim knows I love Jewelry and I love this necklace. He said that the Korean woman who sold it to him said that a woman who wears a butterfly around her neck has all her dreams come true ❤

Saying goodbye to 2011

This year has had it’s up and downs, but overall it’s been fantastic. I may have only spent a total of about 4 1/2 months with Jim, but those 4 1/2 months were amazing. The best part about being  military family is treasuring the time you do get to spend together and not dwelling on the time that we have to spend apart. As Jim has already stepped in 2012, I am still here in 2011, reminiscing and recapping what wonderful memories we have made this year.

Long live The Muppets

The Muppets (2011) written by Jason Segal (who  also starred in the movie) was heartwarming  and nostalgic. I, being a late 80’s baby, was more of a Muppet Babies fan, but, I also appreciate the adult Muppet movies and their hilarious 3D show in MGM studios, I mean “Disney Hollywood Studios.” (Really, who approved this name change?!?! It will always be MGM to me.)

This drawing is originally from the Summer 1990 issue of WD Eye — Walt Disney Imagineering’s employee magazine, by Joe Lanzisero.

Jim Henson was not the voice of Kermit in the new Muppet’s movie. This threw me off a bit, but wasn’t too much of a distraction. Kermit was extra mopey, but he usually is all “woe is me,” but he still sang rainbow connection, which made me happy. Miss Piggy was very cute and hilarious and the love between her and Kermit will live on forever, even though she is nuts.

The movie wasn’t as funny as everyone made it seem, I think I may have teared up a little more than I laughed, but that could be because I am an emotional wreck these days, since Jim is so far away. But, I cry at a lot of movies, even when there is no reason for me to cry. I bawled after Toy Story 3, although, I think most people were right there with me.

All and all, I think Jim Henson would be proud of Jason Segal for his efforts to bring back The Muppets so that they can make people laugh and smile once again.

Why are there so many songs about rainbows
and what’s on the other side?
Rainbows are visions, but only illusions,
and rainbows have nothing to hide.
So we’ve been told and some choose to believe it.
I know they’re wrong, wait and see.
Someday we’ll find it, the rainbow connection.
The lovers, the dreamers and me. – Kermit the Frog

Attention dog lovers

Do not watch Haichi: A Dogs Tale.

The other night my dad put a movie on that he had DVRed. I was crocheting on the couch (I say this like I’m an expert…but really, I just started to learn) and I looked up and saw a dog (yes!) and Richard Gear (double yes!!) I don’t care if it’s weird, he is a hot old man and I will never stop liking him.

To make a long (sad story) short, Richard Gere’s character finds Haichi at a train station and brings him home so that he can find his owner. No one claims Haichi and Parker (Richard Gere) and his family keep him. Parker and Haichi become best friends and Haichi walks with him to the train station every day and then walks back at 5 PM to pick him up from the train station.

SPOILER IF YOU ARE ACTUALLY GOES TO TORTURE YOURSELF AND WATCH THIS MOVIE, STOP READING!

Parker has a heart attack and dies. It’s very sudden and the family is devastated, including Haichi. (Are you crying yet?!) Haichi goes to live with Parkers daughter and son-in-law but continues to go to the train station every night to wait for his owner FOR TEN YEARS! Isn’t that almost as sad as the SPCA commercials that are played on TV with the really depressing music behind it? More recently, they are playing one with “Silent Night” behind it. Way to kick someone when they are down. I’m emotional right now, anything will set me off, especially suffering animals!

Here is the saddest part, it’s based on a true story from the 1920-30’s. If you want a good cry, and you want to be depressed for weeks, (we watched Haichi last week and I’m still upset,) rent Haichi, or watch it on TV. It’s on one of the premium movie channels on Comcast right now.

Book Review: L.A. Candy by Lauren Conrad

I know what you’re thinking, ‘Rosie did you really read a book written by reality star, Lauren Conrad?’ Yes, I did, and I liked it! I have to admit, I am a reality show junkie. I watch way too many reality shows including: all of the Kardashian shows, Teen Mom (1 &2), Sister Wives, Real World (from time to time), Storage Wars, and the list could go on and on! I used to watch Laguna Beach when it was on and became obsessed with the Orange County stars, specifically the feud between LC and Kristen.I never really got into The Hills though, there just wasn’t enough drama on that show for me.

I have been wanting to read L.A. Candy since it came out. I found it at a book sale a few years ago for $2 and couldn’t resist. I did just get around to reading it, though. School didn’t leave much time for “reading for pleasure” and I was too anxious to read in Florida when I was there for two months, unless I was on the beach, and I, sadly, didn’t have L.A. Candy with me there.

L.A. Candy is the first book I have started, and finished, since August! It’s embarrassing to admit, but it’s true. I just couldn’t get into reading when I knew that Jim was leaving for Korea. Now that he is there and settled, I can look towards our future together and get lost in the lives of fiction characters.

To say that the characters in L.A. Candy are completely fiction, in my opinion, is false. This L.A. based novel focuses on four girls who suddenly become reality TV stars when discovered randomly in L.A. (Sounds like the making of Laguna beach to me, just in a different part of California.)

Scarlett and Jane are the two “main” reality TV stars, best friends, and roommates. Their 18-year-old lives get turned upside down when they are thrown into a world of Hollywood glamour.  Jane adapts to the show instantly, kind of like Kristen from Laguna, and Scarlett, similar to LC on Laguna, has an issue with broadcasting her life to the entire country. The stars soon find out that reality TV isn’t all that “real” when scenes are clipped and snipped to add even more drama to their lives.

Madison and Gaby, the two other girls on the show, just add comic relief and drama. Madison is a girl most love to hate and Gaby is a dumb blond that is oblivious to the world around her.

I finished L.A. Candy in less than a week and downloaded the second book  Sweet Little Lies: An L.A. Candy Novel on my Kindle for only $8.99. The second novel was even better and I started and finished it in two days. Now it’s time to read the third and final book in the trilogy Sugar and Spice: An L.A. Candy Novel.

If you are looking for a fun book to read, that doesn’t require additional analyzing beyond, ‘Why are these 18 year olds allowed to drink in clubs,’ then these are the books for you!

The new little man in my life

This is Nolan Michael, my newest nephew and my brother and sister-in-law’s first child. Isn’t he the cutest little boy ever?!? He was born on December 17th at 3:04 PM weighing 7 pounds 3 oz. He was 20 inches long.

He sleeps A LOT but when he does wake up, he is very serious. I think he is going to me an English major like his Aunt Rosie. We are the serious types.

“It is a full moon here tonight, which makes me think of you….”

Even though the movie “Dear John” was filled with horrible acting and a horrible ending, I still watch every time it’s on TV (even though my husband tells me not to), and I still cry at all of the same parts. I haven’t read the book, which is probably for the best, but the movie is just kind of crappy. With all of that said, ever since I saw the movie, I have been obsessed with full moons. Last night was December’s full moon. Fun fact: August 2012 has TWO full moons. One on August 1 and one on August 31. We had our rehearsal dinner on February 18, 2011, which was also a full moon.

I really thought Alicia would go into labor last night, because apparently people go into labor on full moons, but she didn’t and my nephew is still warm in her belly.

One day, I will have a better camera phone. Until then, these pictures will have to do!

No matter where it is in the sky… No matter where you are in the world… the moon is never bigger than your thumb. – Nicolas Sparks, Dear John

Trying to get into the Christmas spirit

It’s kind of hard to be all “holly, jolly” around the holidays when my husband is a trillion miles away in Korea. I’d like to think that I’m at least trying to get into the spirit.

Last weekend I did Christmas stuff with Ashley in Philly. Yes, we saw the Occupy Philly people, and yes, they were as pathetic in person as they are on TV.

Christmas tree in Liberty Place Mall. Notice the flag in the back. This was me being artistic with my camera phone. We also got free shopping bags there!

Too pretty to eat, but I kind of wanted to anyways. Who has the patience to do this kind of thing? Certainly not me. I hope that magical patience is instilled in me when I have children, or else Jim is going to have to build gingerbread houses with the kids.

This picture would have been way better with Jim in it. Maybe I can Photoshop him in? I already warned him that it’s going to be Christmas palooza next year when we get to spend our first Christmas together.

My new snow hat! You can’t tell but it’s camouflaged, just in case they need me to help out when I get to Korea. I’ll be ready!

You can choose to blame your circumstances on fate, or bad luck, or bad choices. Or you can fight back. Things aren’t always gonna be fair in the real world, that’s just the way it is. But for the most part, you get what you give. Let me ask you all a question, what’s worse- not getting everything you wished for, or getting it but finding it’s not enough? The rest of your life is being shaped right now, with the dreams you chase, the choices you make, and the person you decide to be. The rest of your life is a long time, and the rest of your life starts right now. – One Tree Hill