best of...

I ran out of ideas for my Best of list. So if there is any thing you want to know that was my Best of 2008, post it in the comments and I will post it.

best thing that happened to me in 2008

This is finally the one where the answer is...
Jason Castro.
On April 23, 2008, American Idol aired the cheezy Ford Commerical they made for the song Tainted Love. Each Idol was dressed up in a goth costume. That was the beginning of the end. The next day, one girl posted on the American Idol forum that they thought Jason looked good dressed in Goth and now... 8 months later... I created (along with my new best friends) a website called Jason's Goth Girls. I have met the most wonderful people I have ever known. I have made life long friends. My health improved. I gained confidence in myself. I have done things that I never would have done before. As I like to say... I'm not who I was. I have changed for the better. Jason was the catalyst, but its the girls that really changed my life. But without a gorgeous, blue eyed, dreadheaded boy taking a risk and trying out for American Idol and then having talent to boot, I'd be in the same rut that I was stuck in for far too long. So thank you Jason. Thank you for everything. And to my Goth Girls... I have no words.

best girl crush of 2008

I will admit that I have many girl crushes. But this year, I have a brand new one.

Rachel Maddow

So smart, so witty, so snarky, so right.
What's not to love?

best reality show of 2008

The Real Housewives of New York. It was a tough decision between this one and the Housewives of Atlanta. Both of these shows are full of hot messes, but the New Yorkers take the cake for me. Seriously. The Countess? Come on! How could this not be the best show??

best teen pop star of 2008

There are so many new teeny bopper pop stars this year that its almost sickening. Miley, Demi, Selena, JoBros... blah. But there is one that I can actually stand. Taylor Swift. I really got into her song, Our Song. Its fun. Even though she's a cross-over country star, she's cute and entertaining. Plus, she's the only one I don't want to injure. So that's a plus.

best movie of 2008

Since I hardly saw any movies this year, I am taking my sister's recommendation for the best movie this year... Wall-e.
Funny things is that I got this movie for Christmas and I haven't even seen it or watched it since then. I just knew that it would be good and plus, I trust my sister's opinion on these things. Maybe I'll watch it tonight so that I can actually watch it in 2008.

best news story of 2008

Did you really think it would have been anything but this?

best website of 2008

This is the funniest site I have ever read. Not only are the cakes actually big piles of hot messes, but the blogger is so snarky. Love it.

Cake Wrecks FTW

best new artist of 2008

I'll bet everyone assumed Jason Castro was gonna be my answer to this one. But no... he will definitely be on my best of list, but for this one I took into consideration artists who actually released their first album this year.
My best new artist, David Cook.

how cool is it to watch that again? still makes me cry.

best song(s) of 2008

I could not decide between these two anyway. Good thing they performed them together at the MTV Video Music Awards.
Whatever You Like by T.I.
Live Your Life by T.I. feat Rihanna

best sports story of 2008

Michael Phelps winning 8 gold medals at the Beijing Olympics. Can anything really top that? It took 36 years for the previous record to be broken and I wonder if it ever will be broken again. Just amazing and very fun to watch.

best discoveries (for me) of 2008

This year, I discovered a few things that I had heard about, but never experienced myself.


1. Gossip Girl - I had heard of this show, but right before Season 2 saw a re-run episode of season 1. I was hooked with about 20 minutes of that show. I searched and found all the episodes of season 1 online and watched them all. Now that we are way into season 2, its my favorite show. I am really glad I gave in.


2. Chelsea Lately - this show only started in November of 2007, but I always thought it was dumb. I never really watched it, but I figured it was another stupid late night talk show. Then in the last few months (since losing my job), I have been up late and randomly watched it. Now, I am totally addicted too. Chelsea Handler is hilarious. I love her snarky ass. I watch it every night.


3. Twilight saga - I took the leap. I resisted for the longest time. But some friends kept talking and talking about these books and so I finally did it. I know they are young adult books, but I loved them. Actually, I am almost done with Breaking Dawn, so I haven't finished the series yet. But damn. I really like them a lot. I also saw Twilight the movie. I am not a full on fan freak, but I understand the inclination.

best celebrity baby of 2008

There were so many babies born this year, but none that were as cute as Harlow Winter Kate Madden, daughter to Nicole Richie and Joel Madden. She is so incredibly cute that it hurts. She is my favorite celeb baby EVER (or so far).

best dress of 2008

I am starting today with a few of my favorite things of 2008. I begin with my favorite dress of 2008. This gorgeous Versace dress worn by Anne Hathaway at the Venice Film Festival. It is so beautiful. The color is...gaWH! But I have to say, that the dress comes alive on her body and with her legs.

wedded bliss

Today is our 10 year wedding anniversary. 10 of the best and most difficult years of my life. In good times and bad. Thru sickness and health. And I would marry this man again in a heartbeat.
Happy Anniversary to my best friend.

1998

January 1 - Smoking is banned in all California bars and restaurants.

January 22 - Suspected "Unabomber" Theodore Kaczynski pleads guilty, and accepts a sentence of life without the possibility of parole.

February 23 - Osama bin Laden publishes a fatwa, declaring jihad against all Jews and Crusaders.

March 27 - The Food and Drug Administration approves Viagra for use as a treatment for male impotence, the first pill to be approved for this condition in the United States.

April 7 - George Michael is arrested in a restroom at Will Rogers Memorial Park for committing a lewd act in front of a police officer. This incident leads to him coming out as gay.

April 22 - The Disney's Animal Kingdom theme park at Walt Disney World opens to the public for the first time.

June 4 - Terry Nichols is sentenced to life in prison for his role in the Oklahoma City bombing.

June 25 - Microsoft releases Windows 98 (First Edition).

August 7 - 1998 U.S. embassy bombings: The bombings of the United States embassies in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and Nairobi, Kenya kill 224 people and injure over 4,500; they are linked to terrorist Osama Bin Laden, an exile of Saudi Arabia.

September 7 - Google, Inc. is founded, in Menlo Park, California, by Stanford University Ph.D. candidates Larry Page and Sergey Brin.[8]

September 8 - St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Mark McGwire breaks baseball's single-season home run record, formerly held by Roger Maris. McGwire hits #62 at Busch Stadium in the 4th inning off of Chicago Cubs pitcher Steve Trachsel.

October 6 - College student Matthew Shepard is found tied to a fence near Laramie, Wyoming, a victim of gay-bashing. He dies October 12, becoming a symbol of gay-bashing victims and sparking public reflection on homophobia in the US.

November 3 - Jesse Ventura, former professional wrestler, is elected Governor of Minnesota.

November 19 - Lewinsky scandal: The United State House of Representatives' Judiciary Committee begins impeachment hearings against U.S. President Bill Clinton.

December 28 - Laura and Chris become man and wife. Thus begins the best 10 years of their lives; full of challenges, pain, and joy. Neither would change a thing.

to my parents

Hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and a great day spent with the ones you love!

And good presents don't hurt.

the reason for the season

song in my head 12/20/08

I'm Like A Bird - Nelly Furtado
This is in my head, because last night my sister & I were singing it karaoke. It was too funny.

song in my head 12/16/08

Tell Me So by Jason Castro

performance: 12/13/08 Garland, TX

note to self

to do list:

- wrap & box up gifts to mail to Ohio
- mail gifts to Ohio
- clean up guest room
- put ornaments on tree
- buy new strand of clear lights
- christmas cards
- make cupcakes
- dust
- vacuum
- wash guest bed sheets
- clean guest bathroom

edited to add: bumping to show my progress

White Christmas by Jason Castro

go download it for yourself, for free!!!

I'll write more about this when I can speak!


edited to add: the little laugh at the end... omg. *dies*

poinsettia festival

We went to the Poinsettia Festival today. I go every year to buy a poinsettia, plus to take photos. Chris went with me this time. Here's the rest of my photos from this year.

about last night...

I wrote this on my forum last night. It seemed like a good description, plus it was full of emotion. So here is what happened last night:

*jumping up and down*
omg omg omg omg

i just got home from Spring Awakening. it was amazing! i was so close. a little too far to the left, so i missed a little of the action. but it was so great. i could see the spit, i was so close. i cried like a baby during Those You've Known and the finale. I am such a wuss. and to top off a perfect show... i met the cast! AAAAAAWWWWWWWWW!
they did what's called a "talk back" after the show where a couple cast members come out and answer questions. since the show is controversial, there were lots of questions. hardly anyone stayed. so it was very intimate. the two cast members that spoke played two of the three main rolls. they were so nice and answered everyone's questions. afterwords, i got their autographs on my playbill. i spoke to Christy Altomare, who played Wendla, about living in Cincinnati. She just graduated from the same college my husband went to. Then I met Blake Bashoff, who played Moritz. He replaced the original actor on Broadway and he was amazing and so nice. I was so happy to have met them. But pissed, because it was the one day i forgot to bring my camera. i had changed purses to take a smaller clutch and didn't think to grab it. Oh well. Still awesome. But it gets better! After leaving the theater, i was walking thru to building to get to my car and i turn a corner and the whole rest of the cast was there talking to fans. Insane. It was awesome. I was totally overwhelmed. I managed to bring myself to get the autograph of Kyle Riabko, who played Melchior. He was so nice and awfully dreamy. He asked if I enjoyed the show and was really interested in hearing my response. It was very cool. I got all fangirly. But then felt dumb, because all these kids are WAY younger than me. But so talented. I am jealous. It was such a great night. I met and got the autographs of the 3 lead actors.

So freaking cool! Learn about this show. Seriously. Google that shit.

thanks mom

This is for my mom. Its one of her favorite Christmas songs. I am posting this for her as a thank you for calling and waking my ass up this morning. It took almost a half hour on the phone before I got myself up, but she kept pestering me until I did. And I am very grateful for that. My whole life, waking me up has never been easy. She is one persistent momma.

Unto You This Night by Garth Brooks

can't wait

Spring Awakening - TONIGHT!!!

song in my head 12/10/08

Circus by Britney Spears

twilight

So... I finally broke down and read it. Twilight. I know its a young adult book, but so many people have told me how great it is. I finish Twilight today. I will be starting New Moon tomorrow. I have to say that I am glad I waited until they were all out, because I cannot imagine waiting for the next book. Twilight had one hell of a cliff hanger. I've been told to finish New Moon, before seeing the movie. So, I will.

another random meme

the things in bold are things I have done:

1. Started my own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than I can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sung a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched lightning at sea
14. Taught myself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown my own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitchhiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of my ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught myself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had my portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had my picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Ridden an elephant

in love with these

These are to die for! Makes me wish I lived in a place where 1/4 inch of rain was not a lot. I love these! But have no use for them. boo hiss.

So, I was thinking of moving to Seattle... just to wear cute rain boots!!

note to self: must stop looking at sanrio.com

grammy nominations

The hotness was nominated for 5 Grammy's tonight! Congrats.

Best Male Pop Vocal Performance

* Say
John Mayer

Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals

* Lesson Learned
Alicia Keys & John Mayer
Track from: As I Am

Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance

* Gravity
John Mayer
Track from: Where The Light Is — Live In Los Angeles

Best Song Written For Motion Picture, Television Or Other Visual Media

* Say (From The Bucket List)
John Mayer, songwriter (John Mayer)

Best Long Form Music Video

* Where The Light Is — Live In Los Angeles
John Mayer
Danny Clinch, video director; Lindha Narvaez, video producer

this is new

Yup... made some changes around here. Not sure if I like all the gray. But I like the background. What do you think?

he's not just a cute boy with a guitar...

I Am Second

my baby cousin

look at the big, blue eyes

crawling!

Colbie - 6 1/2 months

world aids day

www.worldaidscampaign.org

More than 25 million people have died of AIDS since 1981.

Africa has 11.6 million AIDS orphans.

At the end of 2007, women accounted for 50% of all adults living with HIV worldwide, and for 59% in sub-Saharan Africa.

Young people (under 25 years old) account for half of all new HIV infections worldwide.

In developing and transitional countries, 9.7 million people are in immediate need of life-saving AIDS drugs; of these, only 2.99 million (31%) are receiving the drugs.