I Blame This Entire Post On Pinterest

So I have developed a serious Pinterest habit that has awakened inside of me a serious love for pretty things. I blame what you're about to see on Pinterest. And the fact that, after I took down our Christmas decorations my house just looked... sad.

 

 

My mantle, which is my favorite thing. I am actively lobbying for my husband to paint the brick a bisque color so that my mantle creations would show up better. Thus far he has been... hesitant. But even with the red brick this mantle makes me smile when I walk by. I'm already thinking through how easily I could change a few things out to switch it over to St Patrick's Day. Curt is of Irish descent so he likes to mark that day and I know he will love for shamrocks to show up in our house in honor of the holiday.

 

A quick run-down of what you see: I already had the off-white candlesticks so it was easy enough to pick up some red candles at the dollar store. I already had the little heart votive holders and the pink vase. I found the bunch of tulips at Michael's for 40% off. And the heart garland was just $2.99. As for the print, I downloaded it for free and bought an 8.5X11 frame to pop it into. Now that I've made the investment of the frame, I have designs on multiple ways to change out what goes in it each season. Sigh. This makes me happy.

 

 

 

I already had this heart, which did not show up very well in the picture but you get the idea-- it's hanging in my kitchen window above my sink. I'm pretty sure it was a dollar store purchase from years ago.

 

 

This is my dining room table. I had these hurricanes from Christmas time and was looking for something quick, easy and inexpensive to fill them with. Then I got the idea to use the multi-colored bag filler and thought it was ingenious. Of course I was sad to since find it used several times on Pinterest and see that I'm not the only one who has had this burst of inspiration. The center candle holder is a large silver one that has moved all over our house and held many a candle in its day. I have a little dollar store tchotchke up there right now. It's not the most beautiful thing in the world, but it gets the job done and looks pretty when I light the candle inside it. I also scattered a package of dollar store glittery hearts and used some glass candlesticks w/tapers I already had.

 

 

In case you were unclear on what the hurricanes looked like with the filler inside, here is a closeup. You're welcome.

 

 

This is a little table in my living room that I elected not to go all red and pink with-- but I did want something seasonal so I was delighted to find this "LOVE" sign at Ross for $5. It gets the message across nicely and I might leave it out all year, seeing as how LOVE is My One Word for this year.

 

 

Here is the sign in better lighting, in case you were curious what it looks like. I love the colors and designs. It also makes me smile when I see it. And it is a nice reminder to practice love all year, not just at Valentine's Day.

 

 

This is also terrible lighting. A professional photographer with an expensive camera, I am not. This is on my kitchen table all year long and I just change out what goes in it. The center is filled with candy conversation hearts and white votives right now. It looks very pretty when lit but the candy level in the center keeps mysteriously getting lower.

 

 

Another free printable, another cheap frame. This will also get changed out seasonally. I already had this little candle holder so I just got some red dollar store candles to put in it. This sits in my entryway. I'm thinking green candles and a St Pat's printable after Valentine's is over.

 

 

I love this towel. It came in a set of two at Ross. I washed one and it just does NOT look like it did when it was new any longer. So I have told my family if they value their lives they are NOT to use this towel. It is for decoration purposes only. My sons especially think that a towel you can not use is the most ridiculous thing they've ever heard of. But they are not making the rules, no sirree.

 

 

And here's another printable. Can you tell I'm on a kick? The pinner I found who created this did it much larger and put it over her fireplace. Since I was looking for a small reminder of My One Word to have in the bathroom, this smaller one fit the bill perfectly. I have it on my bathroom counter where I will see it everyday, and be reminded. Because I need reminders. Really bad. This is a dollar store frame but it does the job nicely.

 

 

And finally I decided I needed something on my island and found these real tulips marked down to a dollar at my grocery store. I have now found where they keep the marked-down flowers in my grocery store and take a look each time I'm there. Will these last til Valentine's Day? No. But at that price they're easy enough to replace!

 

I have one more project I'd like to do that involves doilies and baker's twine to make a garland. I intend to string that across my kitchen windows and the large mirror in my den. I already have the doilies... now to find that baker's twine...

 

As we turn the page to February today perhaps you'll be inspired to display some red and pink of your own without breaking the bank. If you'd like to be inspired, check out my Seasonal Display board at Pinterest. I've pinned most of the pins that inspired this post there, including the printables. Happy decorating!

 

When It's Better To Be Honest

I got a letter from a reader the other day referencing a book that my husband and I did a few years ago called Learning To Live Financially Free. It's the story about how we worked hard to get out of $95,000 worth of debt in 4 years on one income. I hadn't thought about that book in awhile and to be honest, little alarm bells started going off when I read her letter. She wants me to give her advice? Me? I started thinking about how absolutely comical it was for me to give anyone advice on money right now. Because while we know what we should be doing, the honest truth is we don't always do it. Not because we don't want to but because we can't. The realities of our lives right now mean we can't do everything financially perfect. We wrote that book, you see, before we had two kids in college. That, my friends, is a game changer. We still believe everything we wrote and aspire to it. We just don't always get it all done perfectly.

And so, after debating how to respond, I decided, like the saying goes, "Honesty is the best policy." After I wrote the response, I decided it was worthy of sharing here, in an effort to be as real as possible with the face I show others:

I was going to write you this very nice-sounding response and say all the right things but then I decided it's better to just be honest.

First of all I am no longer with P31-- long story but suffice it to say I'm much happier where I am, writing what I love, which is fiction. Your email was just a reminder of why I make stuff up now instead of trying to tell people how to live their lives. I'm just not cut out for such things. There is what is true and what we wish were true. And in between there is a gap that I think a great many well-intentioned Christians are falling into.

Which leads me to my response to your questions. That book was true-- every word-- when we wrote it. We did all those things. And they are all things you should be doing. However, over the years it's been harder and harder for us to do. We now have a car payment. With two kids in college, we've taken on some debt. We live by a budget, but it's much less rigid than it was described in the book. And while we do try to communicate about money, it's not as often as we'd like. Life with six kids and two demanding jobs just makes it hard. The good news is, we still don't fight about money-- that is a lasting affect of our financial journey. We still recognize that our struggle is not with each other and that we must be on the same team if we hope to come out on the other side still married.

That's the reality of where we are. We have debt again. We struggle to find enough month to our money just like many people. And while we know the right things to do, we sometimes fall short of making those things happen. We even quit tithing for a time and are trying to get back into the habit in this new year.

In short, I have no words of wisdom to offer you save this: Lean into God. Approach the throne of grace with confidence that He DOES care. Ask Him for all your needs and then practice the faith that He wants to see in your life by actively trusting Him to provide. When the Pharisees asked Jesus what they must do to do the works God requires, He answered simply: "Believe in the One He has sent." (John 6:28-29) I try to keep that in mind whenever I start to worry about finances. I must believe that He's got this. Jesus understood that was WORK. It's not easy.

My advice to you? More than anything, let this financial stress draw you closer to Him. Let it teach you about what that work Jesus referenced looks like. Let this increase your faith because you see Him answering prayers and showing you that He really is love and that grace and mercy are what He can't help but give because of who He is, not what you do.

That's what I'm doing.

Incidentally we recently got notice that the publisher was taking that book out of print and both of us felt a great sense of relief!! :) I hope you get some sense of comfort from this email. I just wanted to be honest and, more than anything, let you know you're not alone.

Planning Special Meals

My mind lately has been on some special meals that are coming up: the Super Bowl, Valentine's Day, Mardi Gras, and St Patrick's Day. It's one thing to plan Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner, but what about those meals that, while not as BIG on the radar, are special in their own way? Why can't we make a little extra effort, create some mini-traditions in the midst of an ordinary week, and have fun? At least, that's been my thinking.

So I decided to share with you what I've got planned in case you'd like to do some thinking ahead too.

The Super Bowl: I like to put out an assortment of appetizers for the family to snack on. With it being a school night we usually don't go to or throw Super Bowl parties, but we can still make it fun while we watch as a family. This year I'm thinking about sausage balls, chicken wings, french bread pizza, and this walking taco casserole made with corn chips, taco meat, and cheese. Easy. I'll put it all out and let them go to town and probably have some sort of dessert too. If I was super adventurous I'd make these. (Won't happen.)

Mardi Gras: I'm planning to make Slow Cooker Jumbalaya and King Cake. I found the recipe for King Cake in the most recent issue of Taste Of Home, one of my favorite magazines, and am excited to try it. We are not cajun and have no ties to New Orleans, but I still think it's good to plan a themed meal and have a little fun on what would otherwise be an ordinary Tuesday. Maybe we'll invite our friends who actually are from New Orleans. Only if they promise not to laugh at my paltry attempts to make a Mardi Gras worthy meal. And bring his famous pralines.

Valentine's Day: I have written before that I make the same meal every Valentine's Day. It started as a one-time thing, but if there's one thing I've learned about kids, anything you do once you better be prepared to do again in the name of "tradition." So every year I make a red meal: spaghetti and red soda (usually Cheerwine or Cherry 7Up or you could always make this) and serve chocolate fondue or a heart-shaped cake for dessert. It takes away the need to make fancy dinner reservations and spend a ton of money. Curt and I like being all together and celebrating the love around the table, since that's the point of the holiday.

St Patrick's Day: I've still got some time to think about this, but I usually make Irish Stew and Irish Soda Bread. And I serve some sort of green dessert. Maybe this? My kids love anything that involves pudding and Oreos.

So that's what's on my mind-- probably should be writing but this is much more fun!

Marinated Pork Tenderloin

(Disclaimer: this photo is from some another blogger. This is not my actual pork tenderloin but I promise this is what mine looked like. I even served it with yellow rice and broccoli so this was about as close as I was going to get to the real thing. I was very tired when I made this-- as you will read about in the post below-- so I didn't snap any photos.)

The other night I made a pork tenderloin that was easy and good. I actually impressed myself because I was beyond exhausted after my whirlwind weekend at Pulpwood Queens Girlfriend Weekend (for pics and a rundown of the weekend, head over to this post at She Reads). Because of my babbling exhaustion, I didn't think I had dinner preparation ability in me. But I did have a pork tenderloin sitting in my fridge and, after a quick perusal of one of my favorite cookbooks-- which was put together by the women in my mother's group back in the early 90's and is no longer available-- I found a recipe for marinade that actually included ingredients I already had. Dinner nirvana.

I threw together the marinade that morning, put the pork tenderloin in it and let it soak all day. Just before dinnertime, I put the marinated pork in my Pampered Chef clay baker and cooked it at 375 for an hour. It came out perfect and tasty. What I liked about it is it could be baked instead of grilled-- a great option for a cold winter night. I paired it with some roasted broccoli and yellow rice and my family proclaimed me a hero. (Not really, but in my mind they did.)

Want to be a hero in your own mind? Here's the recipe so you can pull a dinner out of thin air too!

Marinated Pork Tenderloin

1/2 cup soy sauce
3 Tbsp sugar
2 cloves minced garlic
1 tsp ginger
2 Tbsp olive oil

Mix all ingredients and pour over two 1 lb tenderloins. (Poke holes in the tenderloin with a fork for better absorption.) Flip the tenderloins throughout the day to disperse the marinade. When ready to bake, place tenderloins in 9X13 pan and bake at 375 for 1 hour. You could also grill it.

Nonfiction Books I'd Like To Read This Year

(Image Source: education-portal.com)

So over on Pinterest I posted the many, many novels I'd like to read in 2013. It's massive but not un-doable based on what I read last year. The key (for me) to getting this many books read is NOT WATCHING TV. Really, how many old episodes of Law and Order does one woman need to watch? How many times do I need to see detectives track down a killer on ID Channel?

I will, however, keep watching Castle. So other than that hour of viewing a week, I need to be in my bed reading fastidiously in the evenings before I fall asleep.

But that's not what this post is about.

I thought I'd post about the nonfiction books I hope to read in the coming year, books that have captured my attention because they speak to some need or desire in my life that I think they will assist with. Because isn't that what we read nonfiction for? To become better people? More productive people?

So, here goes. I already wrote about my one word for this year (LOVE). With that in mind, I've been on the lookout for books that will lend themselves to that theme for this year.

One is Love Does by Bob Goff. What was my tipoff? Well, the title of course. If I want to live a life of love, then I need to act in love. This book, I suspect, will help with that.

The other is Because He Loves Me by Elyse Fitzpatrick

Another one is Etched Upon My Heart by Jill Kelly, a book that was sent to me unsolicited. When I saw that the first chapter was titled, "Love" I knew I was meant to read it. Serendipity!

I'm sure I'll find others along these same lines.

Other books I hope to read:

My One Word by Mike Ashcraft and Rachel Olsen (I just finished this one but I wanted to count it. I can tell you that it's worth the read. I wrote about it last week if you want to scroll down and learn more about it.)

Back of the House: The Secret of Life of a Restaurant by Scott Haas (I have an idea for a novel that would involve a restuarant, so this is research.)

Life After Art: What You Forgot About Life and Faith Since You Left The Art Room by Matt Appling

Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain

The books below are all to help me run She Reads more effectively:

What The Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast by Laura Vanderkam

What The Most Successful People Do On The Weekends by Laura Vanderkam

Enchantment: The Art of Changing Hearts, Minds, Actions by Guy Kawasaki

The $100 Startup by Chris Guillebeau

These books are for the mom in me:

Cleaning House by Kay Wills Wyma

Train Like A Mother by Dimity McDowell and Sarah Bowen Shea

The Element by Ken Robinson (A friend recommended this as a wonderful book for helping your kids find and tap into their passions. With teens in the house, that really spoke to me. I've met too many adults who have no idea what their passions are or how to pursue them.)

You might notice I don't have many spiritual self-help type books listed. That's because I've really shied away from those because of a couple of reasons. Mostly I'm just convinced that if we want to grow spiritually, we should read the Bible. I am so grateful for Community Bible Study allowing me the opportunity to do that weekly in a group of women I've grown to love. And I love that they don't allow any other books/authors to be mentioned. It's refreshing after years of being immersed in a culture that seemed to, more and more, follow people and their words more than Jesus and His. My daily Bible study will always come before any of these books. All this other stuff is just gravy meant to help me be more successful in parenting and business.

I also have a long list of writing books I'd love to read this year that I didn't dare include here, lest I completely overwhelm you all. It's a sickness I freely admit to having.

So what's on your list of books you'd like to read this year? Books to make you a better mom, wife, business person, writer, etc?  Got any "can't miss" recommendations? Leave a comment and let me know!

My One Word for 2013: LOVE

I'm reading my friend Rachel Olsen's book My One Word that she wrote with her pastor, Mike Ashcraft who started doing this each year with his church Port City Community Church in Wilmington NC. He saw such a tremendous response that he asked Rachel to help him turn the concept into book form so he could share it on a larger scale. Years of wisdom and stories from people about their One Word experiences are in this book. I raved about it so much that my husband bought it for his Kindle because I wouldn't share my copy.

It took me awhile to pick my word for the year. That's never happened before. Usually the word comes to me and I just know that's the right one. (Two years ago was JOY and last year was DELVE)But this year I had about ten before I finally settled on one that I thought best encompassed all the thoughts bouncing around my head: LOVE. Be a better, more intentional mom who cares more about feelings than rules? Love. Serve people well in my work, be it readers of my books or patrons of She Reads? Love. Be a more affectionate and attentive wife? Love. Reach out to others in vulnerability? Love. Grow spiritually? Love. You get the point.

I always like to pick a verse to go with my word and this year I've picked I Corinthians 13:1: "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal."

Things I Want To Get Out Of My Word This Year:

A better grasp on God's love for me.

Stronger relationships.

Learning to speak in love.

Putting action behind my love.

Look at all aspects of life through the lens of love.

I loved this quote from My One Word:
"We drift into the patterns of our lives unintentionally, because we don't have anything else training our view. Your one word can frame your view of this year. Train yourself to look through it." (p.112)

I'm very grateful for the one word concept. It certainly has helped me set a goal for myself that feels doable instead of long lists of overwhelming resolutions. It's not too late this year to take part and choose a word of your own!

The V Word

This weekend I tweeted/FBed this: "I'm learning that the best fiction is born when your passion and your vulnerabilities meet on the page." That's what I feel like I'm learning with my own writing right now-- to not be afraid to be vulnerable. And to delve into my passions. If I'm going to write, it needs to matter-- to me and to readers.

With this in mind, I saw this in a blog post and wanted to share it with you:

That’s what readers need to feel you’ve done on the page: responded to their needs. But how do you know their needs? Because you know your own.

Are you in despair over a failed marriage? Are you physically hurting because you have fibromyalgia (as I have), so every day tasks are full of pain? Are you rejoicing in the birth of a new grandson, but also grieving because the grandson has Down’s Syndrome and you know that he will be much loved, but your daughter’s family will be very different from what you had expected and hoped? Are you raging at the stupidity of a teacher who has only managed to teach your son that he’s stupid and can never learn math?

Where are you hurting? What are you passions? Where do you CARE ENOUGH to put yourself into a story? THAT is the story you should be telling.

(Quoted from this post.)

If you are a writer, then maybe this will give you something to think about-- how are you tapping into your passions and exposing your vulnerabilities through character, theme, plot, etc.? If you aren't, how could you start? I'm convinced that the books that truly move us-- that stick with us long after that last page is turned-- are the ones where the author has combined those two elements: passion and vulnerability. It feels risky, but it's necessary.

If you're not a writer, then how could you use this same concept in whatever it is you do? Mothering? Marriage? Your job? Your hobbies? I think that the same is true in all areas of life.

Little Red Wagon: The Movie

What are you doing this weekend? Got any fun family plans? At some point this weekend, I'm planning to sit down and watch this video with my family.

Little Red Wagon is based on the inspirational true story of eight-year-old Zach Bonner on his quest to change the world with nothing more than his beat-up red wagon and a blazing spirit of philanthropy. When Zach sets out to help homeless children in America in the wake of Hurricane Charley, by walking from his house in Tampa, FL to the White House, he must overcome bureaucrats and blisters, and capture the hearts of his fractured family and the entire nation.

If you'd like to watch this movie with your family, leave a comment on this post as I have a copy of the dvd to give away! And if you simply can't wait, look for the movie available on dvd at Walmart!



COMMENTS ARE NOW CLOSED FOR THIS POST-- APRIL FROM POLKA DOTS AND PINKY SWEARS HAS WON THE DVD! CONGRATS!

These Are The Days

This is the song that's been running through my head ever since the calendar page turned to January. So I thought I'd share it with you, and include the lyrics. And maybe, like me, as you make your way through these first days of 2013, you'll find yourself humming the tune as you witness your days, whatever your days hold, and you'll be filled with desire to be part of the miracles you see in every hour. A perfect song for a new year:



These are the days
These are days you’ll remember
Never before and never since, I promise
Will the whole world be warm as this
 And as you feel it,
You’ll know it’s true
That you are blessed and lucky
It’s true that you
Are touched by something
That will grow and bloom in you
These are days that you’ll remember
When May is rushing over you
With desire to be part of the miracles
You see in every hour
You’ll know it’s true
That you are blessed and lucky
It’s true that you are touched
By something that will grow and bloom in you
These are days
These are the days you might fill
With laughter until you break
These days you might feel
A shaft of light
 Make its way across your face
And when you do
Then you’ll know how it was meant to be
See the signs and know their meaning
It's true
Then you’ll know how it was meant to be
Hear the signs and know they’re speaking
 To you, to you

The Anti-Resolution Resolution (A Quote From Christy Jordan of Southern Plate)

"I don't make New Years resolutions. Setting one day or section of the year aside to resolve to do better doesn't make sense when that is what you do every day anyway. Each day I wake up and try to be a better person, gain some wisdom, try to use my life in a positive way, and each night I go to bed early so I can get up earlier the next day and try to top my performance from the day before.

I don't berate myself if I didn't reach a goal, and I don't feel disappointed or throw a pity party because I'm not "good enough" according to a fashion magazine or a television shows standards - Their aim is generally far lower than mine anyway.

Every morning of my life is the first day of a new year and I wake filled with with gratitude, joy, and hope in knowing that I'm here for a reason and I've got some work to do. If you're reading this now, the same applies to you. You're here for a reason - but its up to each of us to live for a real purpose beyond earning a paycheck or making it through rush hour. So lets get to it."

Want to know more about Southern Plate? Go here: www.southernplate.com

Reading Goals

I said this on Tuesday but I really like pausing as one year turns to another and setting new goals, evaluating the year past, etc. It speaks to the control freak within me and brings out the type A firstborn tendencies I work hard to squelch during other times of the year. (Being a mom of six means I don't have much control at all and must learn to hold on loosely to any plans I make.)

Nevertheless, when it comes to a new year, I embrace the compulsion and just let my control freak flag fly for a few days.

One area in which I started setting goals a couple of years ago is reading. Before that I just read like a normal person might-- books came my way, I read them and promptly shelved or returned them. I had no idea what I'd read (save for a few memorable titles that replayed in my mind long after they were over), how much I was reading each year, or if there was any pattern to my reading. So I started a reading log to record what I'd read, with a few sentences about my feelings about the book. 2012 was my second year of this and I have grown quite fond of the practice. I know more about my reading habits than I did before I started.

In 2011 I read 60 books, which averaged to 5 books a month. Always one to try to up the ante on myself, I decided I'd try to beat that in 2012. If, I reasoned, I read one more book a month, I could read 72 books in 2012. Though it was down to the wire, I'm happy to report I did just that! I know, I know, it's crazy but I love knowing I did better this year than last. Will I try to top it in 2013? Come on... you already know the answer to that. Of course! I'd really like to read one more book a month and hit 84 books this year. One of the ways I think I can do that is (as I've written about before) listening to one book a month on audio. My library has a pretty decent collection, so I figured if I just keep a book on cd in my car and listen while I'm out running errands, sitting in the carpool line, etc., I can work in that one extra book and meet my (self-imposed, ridiculous) goal.

What books am I looking forward to reading in 2013? Check out my "Massive, Infinite TBR List" board over at Pinterest. I spent the better part of yesterday afternoon creating this board and had an absurd amount of fun doing so. What can I say? "I've grown too fond of books and it has turned my head." (Quote originally attributed to Louisa May Alcott but fitting here.) Check out my board and you just might find some books to grow fond of yourself.

The New Year's Post

So after days of family togetherness, we are spending this last day of break doing a whole lotta nothing and mourning how fast the time went. Tomorrow it's back to real life but in the meantime today I have some new novels I'm reading, one of which is set in England and has prompted me to make multiple cups of tea to have at my side in order to evoke the proper mood. The boys are watching football. The girls are doing a lot of running around and giggling. Seems they are already bored with their new stuff. Sigh.

Later I'm making a traditional southern New Year's meal, which includes some form of pork, greens, & black eyed peas as its main ingredients. Each food has a meaning: pork (health), greens (wealth) and black eyes peas (luck). We figure we can always use all three of those things so we take part in the tradition. I have added that dessert must be served with this meal so your new year will be sweet! This year I'm making pork roast, rice and gravy, black eyed peas, field greens salad, and cornbread. We seem to vary what the "green" item is each year as none of us are fans of collard greens. I'm also making apple pies (we have to have two for this crowd) with vanilla bean ice cream.

We rang in the new year last night with old friends, making it all the way to midnight, which is a feat for us. I like new years because they provide us with a chance to pause and evaluate. What's going well? What could be better? What changes could be made? But sometimes all the areas of change that could be initiated get overwhelming. If the idea of making a bunch of resolutions has grown old for you, I invite you to check out my friend Rachel Olsen's book My One Word, a wonderful alternative concept in which you choose just one word as a theme for your year. It simplifies things so much. I've done it for several years running and I will tell you it's been a meaningful way to mark each year. The word I have chosen has always shown up in amazing ways throughout the year, taking on meanings and ramifications I never expected. If this intrigues you, Rachel and her pastor, Mike Ashcraft have explained it all in their book so pick up a copy from your favorite bookseller or load it on that new ereader you got for Christmas. Read a chapter each morning for the month of January and you will feel better equipped to take on 2013. What's my word for this year? I haven't quite decided yet, but there's one I'm leaning towards. I'll share it once I'm sure.

And now it's back to my novel and more hot tea. I'll share about my reading in a few days, letting you know how my goals for 2012 turned out and what I'm planning for 2013. Yes I do set reading goals each year. What can I say? I'm a firstborn.

Review(s): Parental Guidance and The Guilt Trip

I got to see two movies this past week: The Guilt Trip, starring Seth Rogen and Barbra Streisand and Parental Guidance, starring Billy Crystal and Bette Midler. I loved them both. My husband, who saw both with me, preferred Parental Guidance and said of the film, "That was a great movie. That is the way movies are supposed to be."

While Parental Guidance gets off to a bit of a slow start, it hits its stride in a decent amount of time and quickly melds into a film that is both funny and poignant-- a definite commentary on the "old way" of parenting vs the newer way. When grandparents are confronted with this new way of raising children, they ask some good questions, and make some good points. And I dare you not to tear up at least once. The best part is, THE WHOLE FAMILY CAN SEE IT. There is some potty humor and little boy-type stuff, but I didn't cringe the whole time-- and we had our 12, 10, and 7 year olds with us. If you get some Christmas money and are trying to come up with a good family activity over the long break, I would say go see this film. Load everyone up, buy tickets, splurge on popcorn and cokes and sit back and enjoy. I certainly did.

As for The Guilt Trip, I have to say I enjoyed it. It's pretty tame for a Seth Rogen film and I really bought into the dynamic created between him and Barbra Streisand. My husband felt that Seth Rogen's performance was "restrained" a bit, that he was holding back. But I think he was just trying to act the part of the scientist character he was playing. I think the movie meant more to me as a mom than to my husband, who isn't a mom (obviously). The relationship between the mother and son-- his love and concern for her balanced with the way she totally drives him crazy with her "helpful" suggestions and concern-- was right on target. I think it hit home for me because I have a 20 year old son and I could totally put myself in Barbra's shoes. What would it be like if he was all I had? How would a cross country road trip with him turn out? Add to that the funny scenes and one-liners and I found it to be a very cute film that was an enjoyable way to pass the time. Maybe you can find another mom to go with you, or take your adult son. I found myself wishing I had.

Trailers for both movies are below:

False Bottoms

Last week I plucked out an old Elizabeth Berg title from my shelf of "faves to save." This one, Say When, is about a guy who takes a job playing Santa after his wife leaves him unexpectedly. Perfect for this time of year, it's about so much more than a man playing Santa. It's about marriage and forgiveness and independence and parenting and... a lot of stuff. This was a quiet book, based more on the wisdom and growth of the characters than the plot.

But none of that is what I had to share with you. I wanted to share this quote from the book that I loved. The guy playing Santa, Griffin, is talking to a friend of his about the children whose requests he hears and how he wishes he could fill the wish of every child:

"I wish I could buy a video game and have it fill the void."

"That doesn't fill it, not even for them," Donna said. "Come on, you know that. We're full of false bottoms from the day we're born."

False bottoms. What a great way to describe it. I know I'll recall it the next time I see it in myself.

Motherhood Wisdom From Gwyneth Paltrow

Loved this from Gwyneth Paltrow:

Paltrow says that due to her family, she has greatly reduced her work schedule, and it could be reduced even more with another baby. “I look for an interesting supporting part about once a year. That’s the most I can manage. Some women can do it and that’s fantastic, but I can’t. You make choices as a wife and mother, don’t you? You can’t have it all. I don’t care what it looks like,” Gwyneth says.

(Source: http://www.newsoxy.com/entertainment/gwyneth-paltrow-baby-news-100037.html)

She echoes something I feel strongly about and live with every day. You can't have it all. Something's going to eclipse the other. For me, that something has to be my family or I know I'll regret it later. And I don't want regret to sneak up on me. Because you can't undo regret. You just have to live with it.

PS. I still say she and Robert Downey Jr have no chemistry in the Ironman movies.

Comfort

Things that have brought me comfort in the past few days:

My daughter's story about the high school senior who rallied multiple high schools within our district to collect money from students at lunch all this week and send it all to the families of Newtown to help with funeral costs all on his own. He had the idea and he ran with it. It's one thing to talk about doing something. This kid actually did it. A young man in CT took so much; this other young man is trying to give back. It doesn't right the scales, for sure, but it offers a tiny glimmer.

The cold opening of SNL last Saturday. I don't watch the show, but I love the way they chose to honor those kids by not going on as usual.

This post by Ann Voskamp, who has a way of putting things into perspective for me as she always has been able to do.

And some things shared in a private email I received addressing some of the things I've heard people say in the past few days: How could a loving God allow this? "Because He doesn't create angelic puppets. He gives us a choice, free will-- the choice between good and evil. Sometimes people choose evil." And also who knows better what it feels like to part with a child than God Himself, who "Gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life." Christmas is a happy time for us on earth, but sometimes I let myself think about how on that first Christmas Heaven felt empty without Jesus in it. God had to let His beloved Son go so His plan could be carried out-- a plan of love and mercy and ultimate sacrifice.

All of this only scratches the surface of feeling comforted, but it has helped a little, for a moment. To remember God's plan, to see the goodness that's still out there. Maybe it'll help someone else-- to see the good, to receive some small dose of hope in a season that's supposed to be about nothing else.

On Letting Them Go This Monday Morning

In church yesterday they lit the joy candle for advent, and all I could think was how odd it felt to light a candle called joy in such an impossibly dark time for our nation. How one young man with guns in CT could cast a pall over an entire country, making the joy we once took for granted during this season feel so far out of reach. I heard a news commentator remark over the weekend that, from now on, Christmas will always be mixed with this event, tainting this time of year. And, sad as it is, I feared he was right.

But still the pastor lit the joy candle, and we sang songs about joy and I looked around me and tried to feel something besides sadness, that constant pricking behind my eyelids I've felt since Friday, the tears ever threatening. Joy just didn't seem possible. It seemed absurd. "My mind flits over this," I told my husband after church. "I can't dwell on it for too long or it will drag me under." I barely got through the pastor's prayer for those families without having to run weeping from the church.

This morning I made myself look at those little faces. I read the bios of each, how special they all were, their sparkle, their smiles. And then I hugged my own extra hard. And I smiled even as they fought over the same old things and dawdled and did the very same things they did on Friday morning. But on Friday morning I didn't know that such things were possible... not really. Now I do. We all do.

Last night our school sent out an email to parents assuring us they were evaluating their own security with law enforcement. And I felt like all of us probably feel. Like I just want to keep them home and safe forever. I want to wrap them in my arms and never let go, to keep them in my sights because in my sights I have some measure of control. Yet when I hugged them this morning, they wriggled away, oblivious, darting for the door, the world at large. And I know to restrain them out of fear would be no way to live at all.

And so I watch them bound away, happy about their new puppy and the coming visit from Santa Claus, dreaming of school parties this week and a long, much needed break. I watch them and I pray for the grace to let them go and the protection beyond the reach of my own arms. And I pray for those families gripped by grief in another state, a place far away, yet so frighteningly close. I pray for us all and I think about the joy candle burning, burning, burning, a light in a dark, dark time.

The Hobbit Review

I took my ten and sixteen year old sons the other night for a sneak preview of The Hobbit. One was sick-- he sat and sniffled through the entire film. I kept thinking that if he didn't want to see this movie so badly, he'd be home in bed. But he soldiered through. And so did I. (The movie was three hours long.)

I'm not a big Tolkien-ite. (Is that a word?) But my husband is. And he's passed that onto our male children. So there was no question that some faction of our family would see this newest Tolkien installment asap. They were super happy when dear old mom got them the chance to see the movie early.

Here are some random thoughts about the film for those of you considering it as potential for your weekend entertainment. (Our weekend entertainment is getting a puppy. Don't be jealous.)

• There is a lot of fighting. A lot. People get arms cut off, heads cut off, stabbed, etc. But, as my sons pointed out, there was nearly no blood. "It's only violent if there's blood, mom." Consider me educated. The boys thought all the fighting was "cool." Boys like fighting and are not, apparently, bothered by it like their mothers are. There is little to no language and no boy/girl stuff at all. And I loved finding all the spiritual symbolism. Good and evil are definitely portrayed as such.

• The movie is basically a series of nail-biting scenes. Don't get too comfortable when the little rest breaks happen. They don't last long.

• There are some really gross characters. The king of the Orcs comes to mind. The Pale Orc who rides a particularly angry wolf. And of course creepy Gollum who, as my 16yo son so aptly described "looks like a homicidal cancer patient."

• As a storyteller, I really loved the beginning of the movie, before Bilbo sets off on his adventure. Most storytellers know that you have to show the character in their ordinary lives, then have them receive a "call to adventure," a time when life as they know it ends and they are faced with a choice. As Bilbo asks about the quest he is invited on, "Will I return?"

To which Gandalf replies, "I can't guarantee it. But I can guarantee you won't be the same if you do."

When he and Gandalf have their little chat about whether or not he should accept their invitation to join the quest, you can't help but put yourself in Bilbo's place. We all have our armchair, our books, our cozy little home that we never want to leave. But, as Gandalf tells Bilbo, "The world is not in your maps and books. The world is OUT THERE (pointing to the window)." Gandalf calls out in Bilbo that longing for adventure that he had buried, knowing that if he can ignite it he will have his burglar. And as Bilbo makes his choice, something in all of us does too.

• The day after I saw the movie, I heard U2's song New Year's Day. The line "And gold is the reason for the wars we wage" jumped out at me as I thought about Smaug the Dragon and how his love of gold led to the destruction of the Dwarves' home. War was waged, and, from the looks of things, will continue to be waged for two more movies.

• I have never seen a movie where people fell off-- or nearly fell off-- mountains/cliffs/high places so much.

• The ending kind of sneaks up on you. Don't be surprised like I was.

• And finally, I love Martin Freeman. Loved him in Love Actually. Really love him in Sherlock. And found he made this story much more entertaining. So glad he is Bilbo. He's well suited for it. I just hope that all this movie making doesn't get in the way of filming more episodes of Sherlock. My husband is dying to find out how Sherlock survived that fall!

Bif Of A Break

If you haven't gathered, I'm taking a bit of a break from blogging. Things are craaazy around here. With multiple looming class parties for the kids, special gift drives to buy for, shopping for family gifts, craft and baking projects and some businessey (is that a word?) stuff to take care of, there's just been no room for writing posts. And also, we had to give away our beloved dog and are getting a puppy. I promise to post the whole story sometime soon. And I will post pictures too. Because our new puppy is just plain cute. But we miss our other dog terribly and the decision was hard on all of us.

I also intend to write a post about The Hobbit because I'm taking my two sons to see it tonight. I'll let you know if it's worth seeing, and if it's okay for kids to see.

The Wreath Post

 

 

 

So I have this Pinterest board I created called "Wreaths Galore." I've pinned wreaths I'd like to make someday-- below are my first attempts at not waiting to make "someday" happen.

 

 

This wreath was based on this post. It is by far not perfect. It's not even totally round. There are spaces where you can see the wire peeking through. But I made it and it's pretty and it brightens up my den.

 

 

These next wreaths are for my kids' teachers this year. I got the idea from this post.

 

Once I cut all my fabric and ribbon the actual wreaths themselves didn't take more than an hour a piece. I watched a Christmas movie while I worked and it was a nice way to spend an evening, actually. I love when I' not just sitting idle.

 

 

I ended up liking these so much, I've decided to make them for my kitchen windows, except instead of initials I have little candy canes that will hang in the center.

 

 

Next up I'm going to tackle this wreath, or one similar. I've got my mesh and my evergreen wreath and some ribbon and other stuff to embellish with. Wish me luck!

I Am...

Still trying to recover from a bad cold that hit me hard and fast last week. I've not been this sick in quite some time and am still lacking energy. Curt has said if I'm not better soon I have to go the doctor-- not my favorite thing to do. I had big plans of posting more last week, but that fell by the wayside as I struggled to get through every day. Curt was gone and so I was a sick single parent, and my middle schooler had two away games last week too. And by away, I mean one was an hour away. No fun. But we made it through and for that I am grateful. Last week was one of those weeks I was just glad to see end.

Planning a read-a-thon this month. Inspired by a book I read last year and still think of quite often-- Tolstoy and the Purple Chair-- I am aiming to read a book every two days. (The author of Tolstoy and the Purple Chair read a book a day for a year, but I'm not that ambitious.) I am already on track to meet my reading goal for this year and I know that reading like this will probably put me over my hoped-for number for 2012. That makes me happy. And nerdy.

Making wreaths. I will post pics this week and links in case you'd like to make wreaths too. This is one of those examples of, "if I can do it, any bozo can." My wreaths are far from perfect, but they're cute and they make me happy. I like making little projects that I can see around the house and think "Hey, I made that." I'm not the craftiest person in the world, so this has been a new venture for me, this wreath-making.

Reading Ann Hood. What a wonderful author. I got to hear her speak at the Charlotte Writers Club a few weeks ago and was so profoundly impacted by what she shared about writing. I bought all her books then and there and have been working my way through them (a la the read-a-thon), marveling over her talent. Her memoir of losing her daughter, Comfort, will stay with me for a long time. It's raw and honest and has made me treasure what I've been given that much more.

Editing my novel that comes out in May. I'm doing line edits, which are (in theory) easier than substantive edits. But this one has been more tedious than I expected. I think part of the problem has been I'm foggy-headed from this cold. I will be glad to finish that project this week and press send.

Processing the reality that we're going to have to give away our incredible jumping dog. We'd worked through the fact that he can clear most any fence in a single bound, and we'd learned to watch him at all times if he was in the yard. But a few weeks ago he discovered something we didn't know: our neighbor two doors down got chickens. He promptly went over there and killed one and-- if another neighbor hadn't stopped him-- would've killed more. He is now a prisoner in his own house because he can't be outside unless on a leash. This is no life for a big dog who stares longingly out the window and paces a lot, twitching to get back outside. We've tried a lead (he tangled himself up hopelessly in it and tried to dig the auger out) and talked to a rescue society and his vet who assured us that, even if we put in an electric fence, he would take the shock to get to those chickens. So we're trying to find a good home for him, but it's hard to make a fence-jumping, chicken-eating mixed breed dog sound appealing. If you live near Charlotte NC and have some land and would love an otherwise perfect dog, let me know. In the meantime, we've promised our kids we will get another dog. I'm thinking this time we need a small dog-- one that couldn't jump a fence if her life depended on it.

So that's all for me. Come to think of it, that's a lot.

Rise Of The Guardians and Lincoln

This is my week to write reviews it seems! Had a few thoughts I wanted to share about some movies I got to see early, then didn't get to tell you guys about because my computer crashed and I was without a laptop for about a week. I can make do with my iPad for a lot of things, but writing blog posts isn't one of them.

 

Ok, Lincoln first. I am not much of a history buff (getting better about that the older I get) so I will be honest and say that I agreed to go see Lincoln because I knew my husband wanted to. I figured I'd take one for the team and there are a lot worse ways to spend your time than in a nice cozy movie theater being entertained, even if it's not something you're particularly interested in.

But I was wrong. I really really liked the movie. And by the time Lincoln said at the end, "I wish I could stay," I was in tears. I had grown to really like this former president and felt I knew him in a way my history books had failed to express. I recently told my kids that I'd like all of them to see it. It gives such a vivid picture of our country during that time period. And Daniel Day Lewis truly makes Lincoln accessible and relatable. You forget you're watching an actor.

Next up, The Rise Of The Guardians. I got to see William Joyce (the creator of this amazing movie) speak back in September and was captivated by his passion for this story. I made a mental note to take my kids as soon as the movie came out. I liked what Joyce had to say about the guardians of childhood: Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, the Sandman, Jack Frost, the Tooth Fairy. As a mom who has had kids pass from young to young adult, I see the way that those fairy tale notions slip away just like childhood itself. And how believing in those characters is symbolic of so much of what childhood is about-- innocence, safety, goodness. And how we can protect those things in our children's lives for as long as possible.

And if you've got fifteen minutes, go look up William Joyce's academy award winning short film, The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr Morris Lessmore. If you're a book lover like me, you might find yourself brought to tears over this film just like I was.

Bieber Fever and Nowhere But Up

Last night I watched the Oprah interview with Justin Bieber with my giddy 12yo daughter. I've never had a child go crazy over a pop star before, so this is new territory for me as a mom. But I figured she wanted to watch it, and it would be best if I watched too. Partly because I was curious to know more about this singing sensation and partly because an informed parent is a better parent. At least I read that somewhere.

I was actually quite surprised by how grounded the kid sounds. How well spoken he is and how level-headed he seems in spite of all the hoopla surrounding him. My favorite moment in the interview was when he gave credit to Jesus. A lot of stars will throw around the name of God because God has become kind of a catch-all phrase that people interpret as they see fit. But Jesus? No question what you believe if you bring Him up. My 12 yo, though she might not want you to know this, cried when he did that. And that made me like her all the more.

One of the things I really liked is how much credit Justin also gives his mom, Pattie Mallette. He really seems to honor and respect her. And that's what I'm here to talk about today: Pattie's new memoir, Nowhere But Up. When I got the offer from her publisher to review the book, I said yes immediately because my daughter is such a Bieber fan. I wanted to know more about where he came from, and figured his mother was the best place to start. Pattie's book is an exploration of her own past and Justin's meteoric rise to fame and how it is all woven together. It is a story of triumph and trust. Pattie is so honest in the book that Justin said in the interview that there were things she disclosed that he never knew before reading it.

Here's the summary:

Most people only know her as Justin Bieber's mom, but Pattie Mallette has had an incredible journey of her own. Many people have heard of her son's rags to riches triumph. A few know she was a teen mom who had to overcome a drug and alcohol addiction. Even fewer know the rest of her story.

Now, for the first time in detail, Pattie shares with the world the story of a girl who felt abandoned and unloved. Of a teenager who made poor choices. Of a young woman who attempted suicide and could hardly bear to believe that God would ever care for her. One who messed up, got pregnant, and got a second chance.

Every reader will find themselves somewhere in Pattie's painful journey of redemption. They will be encouraged by her example that what was once broken can become whole. Pattie's story will inspire readers to believe that even in the darkest of places, there's always hope. For those who feel unlovable, there's always love. And for those who believe they're a lost cause, there's always room for another chance.

So if you are like me and have a little Belieber on your hands, you might want to pick this book up and make yourself feel better that there are a lot worse people they could be squealing over.

A Lincoln Thanksgiving

Some People Do Love Fruit Snacks

It was Halloween night and I had emptied the contents of three bags of candy into the large mixing bowl to place by the front door, ready for trick-or-treaters. Reese's cups and Kit Kat Bars and Almond Joys all jumbled together in a swirl of blue and orange. But when the third person glanced at my offering and commented that it "didn't look like much," I started to get worried. What if I hadn't bought enough candy?

I remembered the large box of Welch's fruit snacks I had in the pantry for the kids' lunches. The box was so large that there was still a great many fruit snacks left and my kids were sick of them. They were individually packaged. They were sweet. Surely they'd be fine as a trick or treat item. I tossed them into the bowl and quickly filled it up, happy that I had had such an ingenious idea.

My kids walked by, glanced at the bowl and moaned. "Fruit snacks? You're giving fruit snacks for Halloween?" They were mortified. (Just another way I have/will embarrass them.) But I was resolute and put the bowl in its spot by the door, ignoring the nay-sayers.

And yes, some kids were visibly dismayed by the fruit snacks. I'm sure there will be some who squint at our house next year and ask "Wasn't that the house where that lady gave out fruit snacks?" Then they will roll their eyes at each other and maybe even bypass our house altogether. (Though I doubt it-- I also gave out chocolate.)

But some kids came to the door, saw the fruit snacks in the bowl and squealed, "Fruit snacks! Can I have fruit snacks?" extending their little hands toward the bowl with glee. My only regret was that the nay-sayers in my life were nowhere around to witness this. Some people actually wanted fruit snacks. They liked fruit snacks. Fruit snacks-- for whatever reason-- made them happy.

This made me think about selling your junk at a yard sale and having people pay for it, delighted to get what you can't get rid of fast enough. Or that guy you dated finding someone to marry even though you thought that wouldn't be possible in a million years. And that book you hated that your friend just loved, or vice versa.

Here's my point, because I do have one: Some people do love fruit snacks. Does everyone think it's a perfect item for the trick or treat bowl? No! (Just ask my kids.) But some do. And that's what counts. I'm keeping that in mind as I write. My writing might be the Kit Kats that everyone raves over or it might be the fruit snacks that just appeals to a few. Either way, it will make someone happy. And that's why I do what I do.

Writing Personal Stuff (A Quote I'm Sharing)

The more I write, the more I think this attitude/outlook is key:

Q: Your book is intensely personal. How did you decide to tell such intimate stories to the world?

A: I tried not to think about that aspect for the first draft. I wrote as if no one in the world would ever read a word of it, and told myself, if the issue of personal revelation becomes relevant, I will be more grateful to have this problem than I will be worried. But this approach is critical to writing anything. There are too many voices telling you that everything is a bad idea from the start. I'd never get anywhere if I considered these things in the beginning stages of development. It's a good thing writing is 90% rewriting, because with every new draft, I was growing as a person and a craftsman. I was getting stronger and more confident in my decisions--what to tell, what not to tell.

(Quoted from an interview with Domenica Ruta, talking about her debut memoir With Or Without You.)

Roasted Chicken and Potatoes In The Crockpot

Last week I made a roasted chicken with red potatoes and it was quite good and super easy. I had so much extra time, I made cooked apples as a side dish. I rounded out the meal with some hot buttered corn. All in all, it was one of my favorite meals I'd made in quite awhile, so I decided to share it here.

 

 

All you need is Italian seasoning, garlic salt, some fresh gound pepper and a bag of small red potatoes, as pictured.

 

 

And one of these guys. If you can't read the label, it's a five pounder. And it cost a little over $7.

 

 

Mix the Italian seasoning (2 tsp.), garlic salt (1 tsp.) and fresh ground pepper (1/2 tsp.) together.

 

 

Put the red potatoes (washed and dried) in the bottom of the crockpot.

 

 

Then wash and dry the chicken and lay it on top of the potatoes. Rub the seasoning mixture all over the chicken. Put the lid on the crockpot and cook all day long. And that's it! When you're ready to eat you'll have delicious chicken and potatoes. And you'll have extra time to make cooked apples, which go perfectly with this meal.

 

 

Here's how I make cooked apples: Peel, halve and core a bunch of apples. Add a stick of butter, a cup of water, a half cup of white sugar and a half cup of brown sugar and cinnamon to taste. Turn to a boil and let boil until the liquid becomes syrupy. Then turn down and let simmer til apples are soft. Keep stirring.

Catching The Sunrise

Last week I had to drive my kids to school, a duty that is typically my husband's job in the mornings. I'm not a fan of getting up early and usually prefer to stay at home in my jammies sipping coffee while he drives. But he was out of town so it became my job in his absence. I got up and went through the motions of breakfast and reminding kids to do the same things they have to do every morning, while packing lunches and trying to keep everyone on schedule. I wasn't paying much attention to the lightening sky outside our wndows.

 

 

But when we got into the car and turned out of our neighborhood we were greeted by the most gorgeous sunrise. We all marveled over it together, each taking turns trying to put that kind of beauty into words. We all fell short. My daughter, quick thinking girl that she is, snatched my phone from my purse and snapped these photos. Of course, they still don't do it justice. It's hard to capture the colors and expanse and lighting while zipping down the highway at a high rate of speed.

 

 

Later I came home and looked over the photos she'd taken. And I decided to share them here. Because I was glad that I caught the sunrise with my kids that morning. I was glad that driving duty fell on that day for me, that I had to get out of my comfort zone and venture into the cold darkness in order to find what waited only a few hundred feet away. I need to remember that sometimes-- that there are those moments that are waiting in the things we don't want to do. Moments that can only be found when we step out of our routine. I had to venture into the darkness in order to catch the sunrise.

I Am...

... thinking about Thanksgiving. This, it turns out, is easier than writing a novel in a month. I spent Saturday making my menu list and shopping for tableware and centerpiece items. I did not, incidentally, write. This means I'm already behind in NaNoWriMo, and I'm actually ok with that.

... mulling over every story idea I've ever had and coming up with wonderful ideas for those stories. Every story idea, that is, except for the one I'm supposed to be writing during the month of November. I am excellent at psyching myself out.

... confessing that I may have watched a few Christmas movies on the Hallmark channel this past weekend. What can I say? I'm getting in the Christmas mood.

... looking forward to going to the Southern Christmas Show with my mom and oldest daughter on Friday. This is the official kick-off of the holiday season for me. (The above might make more sense now.)

Wreck-It Ralph Review

I admit I didn't want to go see this movie. I'm not a big fan of kid music or kid movies. And last night as I hurried my girls through the needed activities to get to the movie on time, I was even grumpy about it. I complained to my husband "Why do I commit to these things?"

"Because you know it means a lot to them," he assured me, then sent us on our way, not-so-secretly delighted to be left in a mostly empty house. I wanted to change places with him, I really did. But I was in full-blown martyr mom mode and soldiered on.

So we got our seats and I passed out the water bottles and Halloween candy I'd shoved in my purse so we didn't have to pay for snacks. And, grudgingly, I resigned myself to the fact that I was going to have to sit through this kid movie.

But of course it wasn't just for kids. I was pleasantly drawn into the story and enjoyed the humor. What Toy Story did for the secret life of toys, this movie does for the secret life of video game characters. Did you know they can travel between games via the power cords in the arcade? And adults will definitely identify with the references to the history of arcades and the development of video games from our generation to now.

I'm not going to tell you a lot about the story because it's better if you don't know much about the back stories of these characters. (And yes, video game characters do have back stories.) But I will tell you what my seven year old piped up on the way home: "Mommy, that story was about how it's good to be exactly who you are."

She did a very good job of boiling down the whole movie into one line. It is a story about being exactly who you are, and believing in who you were programmed to be in spite of glitches that might throw you off track. (This will make even more sense after you see the movie.) I don't know about you, but that's a story I want my kids to see. Heck, it's a story I need to see.

To print off a variety of Wreck It Ralph activities for your kids, just click on this link:
http://www.wdsmediafile.com/disney/wreckit-ralph/fpk/

And here's the trailer: