MarytheKaytheBlog

My Favorites from the Oscars

Before I show you my favorite dresses from the Oscars, I feel impressed to post a disclaimer. 

Billy Crystal said it best in one of my favorite quotes of the night in his opening monologue:  "We're here at the beautiful Chapter 11 Theater to celebrate a holiday tradition that not only creates memories for the ages, but breeds resentments that last a long time...Nothing takes the sting out of a recession like watching millionaires present each other with gold statues."

I realize we watch movies to escape reality for a moment, and live in the magical world on the big screen before us.

Much in the same way, we escape the Sunday night reality to live for a few hours in the magical designer dresses and jewels, and witty banter on the screen before us.

The older I get, the more I realize I prefer my reality.  Oh don't get me wrong...I'd love to be able to pay off my home mortgage, and not to get a knot in my stomach when paying bills each month.  Sometimes I'd love to have a stylist, and a trainer, and a personal assistant, and a maid.  But, I'm guessing the magical moments and magical designer dresses on the  television screen aren't all they're cracked up to be, either. 

I have a strong suspicion those skinny actresses in their lovely designer dresses weren't munching on pizza and chips Sunday night, like my girlfriends and I were.  Probably many of those girls ate a stick of celery, and were wearing a whole lot of spandex.  Me?  I was wearing sweat pants.  In fact, my reality is a lot like those navy sweatpants I was wearing:  Laid back and little bit slouchy, but completely comfortable and  relaxed.

Oh, but don't think I'm on a soapbox here.  Because guess where I was Sunday night?  Sitting in front of the t.v.--watching the Oscars.  And loving every moment of it.  Feeling swept away by the creative montages, the hilarious jokes, the genius of Billy Crystal, and of course--the beautiful dresses!

So, let's get on with it!  Here are some of my favorite dresses of the night...

 

Top pick, hands down:

Emma Stone in her stunning, yet simple red flowing dress.  Simple hair, simple makeup: elegant!  Her Presenter banter with Ben Stiller was hilarious!  Love her!!!

And in no particular order, some of my other favorites...

  Cameron Diaz

 

Kristin Wiig

Lara Spencer

 

Lea Thompson

 

Octavia Spencer

 

Maria Menounos

 

Natalie Portman, in her elegant 1954 Christian Dior gown

 

And, now, for MY OWN, very special Oscar Awards...

*drum roll, please*

 

Actress's waistline most likely to resemble my wrist...

(except my wrist may be a little pudgier)

The beautiful, the witty, the very skinny Kelly Ripa

 

Actress most likely to slip out of her dress...

(and not in a good way)

Honey, your bosoms are showing Jennifer Lopez

 

Actress most likely to play a super hero

(But, looked simply lovely when she removed her cape)

 

Presenting Super White Girl powered by celery sticks Gwyneth Paltrow

 

Actress whose hair weighed more than her dress

(Which, by the way, is stunning)

You won't recognize her when her hair's wet Esperanza Spalding

 

Actress's leg most likely to get chilly

Or...

Actress most likely showing off her right leg in every photo of the night

Makes me wonder what's wrong with her left leg Angelina Jolie

 
To be honest...I didn't even get to watch all of The Oscars this year.  So, goodbye witty banter and beautiful dresses...  Goodbye sweatshirt wearing friends hanging out, and goodbye pepperoni pizza.  Back to reality... The reality that I'd promised to help my daughter type a paper and study for a grammar test.

A little escaping and a little magic is fun for a while.

But, reality is always there waiting for my safe return.

Did you escape reality last night?

Who were some of your Oscar Night favorites?

A very deep and introspective post about television

You may want to wait to read this post when you have time to sit and think about it. 

Because, the very nature of its depth may overwhelm your delicate sensibilities.

(Yeah, yo mama said you had delicate sensibilities.)

I have no idea whatsoever whatsoever I am saying.

But, I sure am enjoying myself.

Indubitably.

(Heck yeah, I had to look up the spelling of that word.  In fact--PLEASE work this word into your vocabulary today!!!  I'll give ya a quarter, if you do.  But, you have to say it to me in person...at my house--and ONLY WHEN you are handing me some chocolate ice cream.  Then, the quarter is totally yours.)

*ahem*

Back to the very serious nature of this post.

I'm gonna tell you some of my current t.v. show favorites.

And, then--you're gonna tell ME your current t.v. show favorites.

That, my dear friends, is called:  Give and take.

 

 
1.  Downton Abbey- Yes, yes, it's on PBS.  What?  You don't get that channel?  Neither do I.  But, I'm watching Season 1 on Netflix.  Love, love, love it!  I betcha $100 bucks Lord Grantham says "indubitably" at least once a day.  Wonderful characters--both upstairs and down--that I'm either rooting for with all of my heart, or hating with all of my heart.  (Yeah, I'm talking to YOU, Tom and Mrs. O'Brien)

 

 
2.  The Firm- A t.v. show based on John Grisham's book?  Yes, please!  This show is filled with good people...as in these are my people, good people.  Starring Josh Lucas and Juliette Lewis.  I love that Mitch McDeere (Josh Lucas) is both Southern gentleman and scrappy lawyer, who will fight to protect his clients with good old fashioned justice and personal conviction.

3.  Parenthood - Lauren Graham (you know--Lorelai, of the Gilmore girls) is what originally drew me to this show.  But now--these people are my family.  I hear the Season Finale is airing next week, and I'm already in mourning.  Whatever will the Bravermans do without me all summer?

 

 
4.  Pawn Stars - I'm pretty sure these fellas do NOT use the word "indubitably."  At least, not on a daily basis like Lord Grantham.  But, they are good ole boys anyway.  And my husband will sit beside me on the couch and watch this...and sometimes bring me a bowl of ice cream, too.  Which, I like to call a triple score.  Couch, t.v., ice cream = successful evening.  Plus, watching this show is nearly as good as reading a history textbook.  You mark my words. 

What about you? 

What t.v. shows are you enjoying lately?

Some thoughts about Michelle Duggar

The Duggar family is in the national news again.  Tuesday morning on the Today Show, Michelle revealed that she is three-and-a-half months pregnant with her 20th child. 

I have seen a LOT of reactions to Michelle's pregnancy announcement already--in e-mails, texts, and Facebook.  Frankly, most of the reactions I've seen have been negative.  Things like,

"Why in the WORLD would she want another baby?"

"Those poor older kids now have another child to help take care of."

"She's too old to have another baby."

"That's just selfish to bring another baby into the world...especially when there are so many orphans in the world who need adopting."

While I totally understand each of those sentiments, I want to be careful here.  As I've gotten older, I have learned a lesson the HARD WAY about judging someone's choice. 

I have learned...

To wait, before speaking.  Be quiet, listen, gather more information before speaking.  So many times I have spoken out too quickly, and later regretted what I said.

Also, I have learned not to judge too quickly...especially without having walked in that person's shoes.  I can't count the number of times I have harshly judged someone, only later to regret my harsh words when I realize I didn't know the whole story in the first place.

The Duggar family is a difficult family for me to judge harshly.   As with every television star, all you have to do is wait a little while for true character to show.  Look at the recent Kardashian wedding.  It only took 72 days to answer everyone's nagging question about the over-the-top lavish wedding:  Is this marriage for real, or is this all a big show for the ratings?  72 days later, I think we can guess the answer.

But, the Duggar family has stood the test of time for me.   You might not care for their family planning beliefs or methods, and you might not agree with their homeschooling philosophy, or their no television, no dating standards.  You might even find their show completely unexciting--since everyone seems to get along, and nobody's yelling or losing it. 

But, what none of us has seen is a family scandal.  This is a big family that has spent hours and hours, and over 5 years in front of television cameras, and not one scandal has surfaced.  Not one time have we seen a hint of the family not practicing what they're preaching.  I'm not saying that a scandal won't ever happen.  But, so far--all of the kids seem well-spoken and happy, and seem to believe what they are saying to the cameras.   

And I have to admit--every single time I hear Michelle answer questions meant to be controversial, or meant to stump her--every time I am impressed with her answer.  That doesn't mean I always agree.  Because I don't.  But, her answers always seem sincere, well thought-out, and most of all--humble.

Humble.  That's a big one for me.  I can't think of ONE other television star who has that quality like the Duggar family.  Humility goes a long way for me.  This is a family living out what they believe to be right and good, and besides living life in front of television cameras--they are leading quiet lives.  Lives that are meant to show the world what they believe, rather than tell us.

So, cut to the chase.  What do I think about Michelle Duggar getting pregnant with her 20th baby?

I sure wouldn't have 20 babies.  Heck, I can barely handle 2.  But, I respect Michelle Duggar.  I don't want to trade places with her--but, given the opportunity, I'd LOVE to sit down with her and ask 100 questions about how she does it all, and even why. 

Since I probably won't get to sit down with her and ask those questions, I'll continue watching her family from afar.  I'll continue being impressed by her family's commitment to what they believe, and their graciousness and courage to continue answering questions meant only to ridicule those beliefs.   

Why would I ridicule a woman trying to live out her convictions?  Isn't that how I want to live, too?  Living out my own family's convictions with humility and grace.  Maybe we're more alike than I think...

Okay.  Your turn.  What do YOU think?

Linked up with:

Friday Fun...Long Lost Television Shows

This week, I wrote about how excited I am about the upcoming Fall TV premieres.  In honor of all the fresh TV coming soon, I thought it would be fun to take a walk down television memory lane.    *cue the sentimental music, Napoleon*

Here are some of the shows I used to love watching.  Do you recognize them all?

(Hint:  Hold the mouse over the picture for the answer)  But see if you can name it first!

 

 This may be my ALL-TIME favorite show.  If you didn't love this show...well, then we probably cannot be friends.  Dave and I wanted our daughters to love this show as much as we did, so we bought all 9 seasons!
 

 Ah.  I used to drive over to my future sister-in-law's apartment to watch this.  Sometimes she'd even cook for me!  Mmm, chicken and dumplings.  Was it on Thursday nights? 

 

 Oh my word.  My husband and I found this series, and rented the discs from Blockbuster.  I can remember many LATE nights...because we kept wanting to watch just one more...

 

My sister and I must have watched this after it was syndicated...We watched it in the afternoons after school.  Uh, no WONDER it was funny--look who the stars are!  Did anyone else watch this?

 

 My college roommate and I watched this show faithfully.  (Hi, Roomie!)  We would exercise during the commercials, cause we were athletic kind of girls.  Or not. 
 

 How about another medical drama?  Uhm, and is that Denzel Washington and Mark Harmon?  Who knew?  Anybody remember Howie Mandel blowing up rubber gloves on his face?

 

Childhood memories...  Quick!  Name the man on the right...  Hint: He's wearing green...
 

This one's a tougie!  Anybody remember it?  I LIVED for the scenes when they'd show those magic rocks.  I was mesmerized by the magic rocks... 
 

One of my all-time favorite shows.  These early ones were my favorites, too. 
 

 

"What you talkin' 'bout, Willis?" 

 

I will be really impressed if many of you remember this show about twin sisters.   I loved it, though!

 

My brother, sister, and I ALL loved this show!!  Double points if you can NAME the characters!  "Hey, hey, hey!"
 
I also REALLY LOVED this show.  It made me want my dad to call me "Kitten."  I always thought that was the sweetest thing!

 

Okay, okay, I could go on all day long.  This has been FUN remembering all these old shows! 

HOW MANY did you know?

What were some of YOUR FAVORITE t.v. shows? 
 

A Quick Dinner your Kids will LOVE!

With the Bachelor Finale coming on tonight (I know, I know), I need a dinner that my kids will eat quickly, and without complaint.  I mean, who has the energy to argue with a 6-year-old over whether or not that 3rd bite of green beans was big enough to be considered a "bite"?  I need a meal that our family can enjoy together around the dinner table tonight...before Mama excuses herself to go watch her "social documentary."

 

With all of that in mind, I came up with what I hope will be a WINNING dinner.  "Winner" for me because it is easy to prepare.  "Winner" for my kids because they like it!

 

Tonight's dinner is a little different for our family, in that it is not only vegetarian--it is vegan!  Now, before you meat-eating carnivores get all up in arms, don't worry.  Tonight is the exception.  We are one carnivorous family.  Heck, we even like to hunt the defenseless little critters. 

So, get on with it, lady!!!  What IS a quick dinner your kids will LOVE?

I mean, may I present to you:  A quick dinner your kids will LOVE...

 

 

What???  You think that's too much?  Okay....how about this...

 

There.  Is that better now?

What???  What's the problem?? 

I've got a main course (Pop-Tarts, source of 7--count 'em--vitamins and minerals!!)

 
Side dish--Chester's Puffcorn.  CORN, right?  A completely acceptable side dish.  The fact that it's puffed is just a bonus!  Hey, don't knock corn.  Some farmers give their lives to provide our tables with corn.  I, for one, am grateful.  Thank you, corn farmers.  Especially Mr. Chester.

 
And dessert.  I just thought a little dessert would make tonight's dinner more special.  There's really nothing to baking up a batch of nice, hot Ding Dongs.  In no time at all, they're fresh and ready to go!

Don't mind that messy oven...those Ding Dongs just leaked all over the place...and on the oven door, too.  My oven was sparkly before I cooked the Ding Dongs.
 
There you have it!  A QUICK  and easy dinner your kids will LOVE!!!  Tune in next week when I tackle the puzzling subject of:  Hyper Kids at Bedtime.

 

Nutritional information for tonight's dinner?  Why, sure!

Pop-Tarts - 400 calories, 2 g protein, and a good source of 7 vitamins and minerals!!

Puffcorn - 160 calories, 2 g protein, baked--not fried!!

Ding Dong - 180 calories, 2 g protein, who can resist its crazy name??? 

What's the craziest thing you've ever served for dinner?

You still wonder if I'm being serious, don't you?

Linked up with:

 

The Bachelor Viewing Scorecard--Brad rocks his adverbs. Clearly.

   Disclaimer(s):

1.  Yes, I know.  I watch the Bachelor.

2.  I really like Brad, the current Bachelor.  He is one of my favorites in quite a while.  (See #1 above)   Brad seems respectful, and like he genuinely does his best to act with integrity.  (See #3 below)  

3.  I realize The Bachelor is a television show that is probably 91% make-believe.  And those producers--they do a great job.  Because I really like Brad.  (See #2 above)

 

What is an adverb anyway?  And why does Brad love them so much…I mean SO MUCH?

An adverb is a part of speech. It is any word that modifies any part of speech or other verbs other than a noun.  Adverbs typically answer questions such as how?, in what way?, when?, where?, and to what extent?  (from Wikipedia)

Why Brad is our Adverbs Bachelor Spokesperson.  (Or, ABS)  Everyone uses adverbs.  TRULY, they do.  But, I have noticed all season how much Brad loves his adverbs...dearly!  Please understand this is all in good fun.  I find it quite refreshing that Brad uses his adverbs so well.  But, let's just see HOW WELL he uses them!  I have created a little scorecard, to use as you watch.    Oh, how I would love it if you'd leave a comment with Brad's "ABS score" once you've watched!  You know--that would be AMAZING...like, more than you know!!

 (Download The Bachelor Viewing Scorecard)

The Bachelor Viewing Scorecard:  ABS Edition

+1        Adding an appropriate -ly to the adverb (You did amazingLY.  That is greatLY appreciated.)

+1        EMPHASIZING the adverb (That was REALLY fun.  Thank you SO much)

+1        Putting an adverb in its own sentence, so as to emphasize it (I think you're great.  Truly.) 

+2        Every time he uses his favorite adverb phrases:

Thank you SO much

That means...more than you know

I appreciate it...more than you know

_______          Date with Ashley H.  ABS Score!

_______          Date with Chantal ABS Score!

_______          Date with Emily ABS Score!

Want a sneak peek of the adverbs (and ABS) you'll be gleaning from tonight's episode?

Watch for the perfect ABS...  at around  :25 ,  :36 ,  :45 , and  :49

 

For MUCH FUNNIER commentary after tonight's episode, be sure to check out Lincee's I Hate Green Beans Bachelor Recaps!

Favorite Christmas Clips from the 80s!!

 Happy almost Christmas, everybody!!!  I do hope you have all your shopping and wrapping done...Because if you do not, then I bet you are awfully grumpy about that.  If so, then do I have a DEAL for YOU!  I searched around until I found 3 of my favorite shows/movies of the 1980s (aka, the Glory Days), and found some Christmas clips to help cheer you up, and get you in the Ha Ha Ha holiday spirit.

Boy, they sure don't make 'em like they used to, do they? 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Do you have any favorite Christmas clips from the 1980s?  You babies, surely you've seen some RERUNS!!

As this holiday gets closer, I just want you to know how MUCH I appreciate you for stopping by.  Some of you have been so kind this year, and have encouraged me so much with your kind words.  I wish you the merriest of Christmases this year! 

Now, I'd love to hear about some of your favorite 80s Christmas clips!

We interrupt this content...for some commercials

We interrupt the regularly scheduled programming for

Some entertaining commercials.

 

Commercials that made me say, "Huh?"  "Seriously?"

 

What do you think?

 

We used to call those by a different name...and no, I am not going to say that name here because I don't want any weird searches landing on my blog because of it!  And you know you thought the SAME THING!!  We're all thinking it--but we're not going to say it, RIGHT???

And another thing...Does the plain button-down shirt really look any better?  I don't think so.

Okay, I admit--I thought this next one was funny!  It's my junior high humor showing through...

 

And...is it just me--or does anyone else GAG at the sight of the wad of dark hair on the white washcloth?   

Somehow, I don't think the nice ladies sitting by the pool are spraying their arm hair, do you?

 I sure hope no one was eating while watching that last commercial...

 

What do you think?  Which commercials do you love / hate the most right now?
 

I Let My Little Girls Watch The Bachelor (once)

Often, my friend Carissa has a Tell the Truth Tuesday.  Today, I'd like to join her, and tell my own little (horrible) truth.

  

Mind you--it's taken me months and months to be able to tell this truth.  And even now, my fingers hesitate on the keys. 

  

Deep breath, deep breath

  

This Truth Tuesday is in honor of last night's The Bachelorette--Hometown Visits.

  

Several months ago, or whenever it was that Bachelor Jake was sweeping all the young ladies off their feet, twirling them around in the air, and kissing on every stinking one of them...I might--or might not have--recorded the Hometown Visits episode of The Bachelor.

 

(Okay, for those of you who are shocked by this behavior, PLEASE, I beg of you in the name of all things family friendly, PLEASE just click on off this evil blog of reality t.v. trash.  Go on, click click.  Really--there is no need for you to continue reading.  I promise to write something uplifting and non trash-ish tomorrow.)

 

Disclaimer:  If you are still reading, you must know that I am conducting an informal scientific study on group behaviors.  Really.  Watching reality television is the only way that I am able to study the behavior of individuals in certain settings that make them act: A) totally crazy; B) totally dumb; C) all of the above. 

 

So, I recorded Bachelor Jake going on the hometown visits.  Here's where it gets tricky:  I am old school, and still record things on the good ole VCR.  For you young'uhns, this looks like a big giant cassette tape, and has about the same quality.

 

Anyway, since we are an old school family, we also have old recorded off t.v. Sunday Night Movies.  My daughters LOVE watching our old VCR copy of Star Wars.  (And, yes, our daughters know every single commercial jingle from that 1983 t.v. recording!)

 

You can probably guess what happened with the mama who doesn't multi-task very well, and the 5-year-old daughter who loves recorded t.v. shows/movies.

 

That particular Tuesday, Sara Beth asked if I would put in her Star Wars videotape.  At the same time, the phone rang.  I quickly popped the tape into the t.v. and left the room in order to finish my very important conversation.

 

How do I know it was an important phone call?  Well, because it was my sister and: A) we discuss world events; B) we make very efficient, quick phone calls; C) none of the above.

 

After about 30 minutes a while, my oldest daughter came into the room where I was still discussing world events on the phone, and asked, "Why are you letting Sara Beth watch The Bachelor?

 

Oh my heavens--I walked into the room, and there was Sara Beth propped up on her elbows, watching Jake woo a young lady and her family.  I couldn't hit that "Off" button fast enough, or hard enough.

 

And also, my face instantly blushed a bright beet red.  My mouth was moving, and there were fast words tumbling out of my mouth, but my brain was busy racing through the possibilities of what my girls had just watched, and what future psychotherapy they would need because of it.

 

"Mom!  Jake wasn't finished with the hometown visits!  Can we please just finish?  We want to know who he picks!" 

 

Oh, NO.  No you DON'T want to know who he picks, or HOW it turns out...

 

"Girls, what you have just watched is sort of like...Like King Ahasuerus in the Bible, when he sets out to find the most beautiful wife in the land...and settles upon Queen Esther..."

 

Okay, okay, since this is Tell the Truth Tuesday, I must admit, I didn't use that explanation.  But, I sure as heck should have.  It is a pretty good one, if I do say so myself!  Too bad, I thought of it about 4 months too late!

 

Linked up with:

 

Drumroll...We Have a WINNER!!!

Thank you, to the thousands of you who entered my 4th of July Trivia Quiz!!!  Okay, so not really thousands...but for those dedicated few, I thank you from the bottom of my heart!!  I DO love history, and I DO love you for taking the time even to read my little blog... 

And Do + Do =  Well, a little giggle, that's what it equals!!!  (My mama will be so proud...but she already knows my sense of humor is stuck in the junior high grade level!)

Without any more potty humor or joking around...let's get to the good stuff--THE WINNER!

I used Random.Org to generate a random number...and the winner of the FABULOUS PRIZE--which I am calling All American SUMMER FUN is:

 

Karen Lipford!!!!  Let's hear it for Karen, who knows her 4th of July history!!  Now, Karen, after you have bowed and given your acceptance speech, please e-mail me (see right-hand column for my e-mail) so I can award you the loot.

What's the loot, you ask?  Well, read on, my friend!

Presenting the All American Summer Fun Pack:

Includes all the elements of great summer fun!  (Well, okay, a lot of them anyway...)

 

1)  Summer Fun means marathon movie nights with the family!  And what could be better--or more fun--than to watch Little House on the Prairie--Seasons 1 and 2!!!  Oh my heavens, please do not tell me if you don't just love Little House...because then I would think you are a mean and shallow person.  Oh, how I wish they still made shows as wholesome and good as Little House.  (I hate to think about the stuff our generation of kids is growing up watching.  But, let's not go there today.  That's a whole other blog post.)

 
2)  What is more Summer Fun than S'Mores?  And what about having S'Mores during marathon movie nights??  Yesss.  Don't want to build a bonfire in your front yard to toast marshmallows?  Ya big sissy...  Have no fear--you can make them in the OVEN!!  I do love the clear instructions on how to do this on E-How. 

3)  Oh, and I do not want to forget the Summer Fun blue square bowl that I am including!  This plastic square bowl just says "Classy Summer Fun."  Trust me, it does.  Oh, but wait--there's more!  With this classy blue bowl you will also have a whole bagful of matching blue chip clips.  A house never has enough chip clips, in my humble opinion.  And now, your chips will all be matching, which is important.

4)  You know what else says Summer Fun?  Right about this time every summer, I have to start avoiding Walmart and Target...because they begin reeling me in with their colorful, long aisles of school supplies!!!  Oh, those tidy little rows of Crayons and notebooks and Elmer's glue...I just can't stand it.  Just one little item, or maybe 5.  Plus, school supplies are always handy to have around, right?! 

(What you WON'T see in this giveaway?  A pair of those $52 scissors!!!  Wow, they must cut really well.)

Oh, but we HAD to get the Love notebook.  Okay, so we bought 3.  Now, don't be selfish--we kept 2 of them for ourselves!  Surely you can understand why.  See:

I also included 3 organizational items that I ALWAYS have around:  A magnetic grocery list for my fridge, some blank note cards that I keep by my phone for messages and other lists, and magnetic clips for kids' artwork for the fridge--or for birthday/wedding invitations that I also hang on the fridge.

There you have it!  Some of my favorite things--Summer Fun Style!!!  I sure hope you enjoy them, Karen!  By the way, I would love to post a picture of your family enjoying some of these things, hint hint!!

 

Linked up with: